AFTER the heroics of I Am Maximus and Paul Townend at Aintree, this seven-race flat fixture had a very anticlimactic feel. While out of luck with his three Grand National representatives, Henry de Bromhead had better fortune with Tim Toe in the concluding David McKeown A1 Generators Maiden.
The winner of a bumper when in the care of Pat Doyle and subsequently purchased by Robcour, the Joshua Tree five-year-old was settled in mid-division by Ronan Whelan. Improving into a narrow lead with a furlong to go, the 15/2 chance was ridden out in the closing stages, fending off the effort of Joe Cool (5/2 favourite) by three-quarters of a length.
Backed from 80s, Beechingstoke was the subject of sustained late support and was just 9/2 when withdrawn at the start by order of the stewards.
“Funnily enough, my girlfriend’s brother (David Doyle) rode him in the bumper he won. I spoke to him and he told me he has a gear,” Whelan reflected. “It felt like we didn’t go hard there and he probably landed there a bit soon. He idled in front, but he has got a nice turn of foot and feels like a horse with a bit of class.”
Patient ride
Ray Grehan’s Putapoundinthejar (5/1) is another who has already made a mark in the National Hunt sphere, with this dual hurdle winner leading home 11 rivals in the Paddy Woods Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
Given a patient ride by Joe Harnett, the Tony Martin-trained six-year-old made steady headway on the outer with half a mile to go and disputed the lead over a furlong from home. Soon engaged in a good tussle with Superficial, there was ultimately half a length between them at the line, with a yawning gap back to the third. “He did it well - we went good and hard and it suited him down to the ground. He liked that ground as well,” Harnett commented.
’Masterful ride’
The front pair also drew clear of the remainder in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, with Jack Davison’s New Radical (12/1) snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Coming from off the pace, the JWD Partnership-owned bay still had plenty to do in second from the furlong pole, but soon found another gear under James Ryan, thundering home to deny Karrygrant (5/6 favourite) by a short head.
“It was a masterful ride from James. The horse didn’t make life overly easy for him, he’s immature mentally,” Davison explained. “To be fair to the horse, when he hit the rising ground, he stuck the head down and he did try for him, so I’m delighted with the result.”
OUT of action from September of 2021 to October 2025, Alnofoor has been making up for lost time of late and registered a second successive victory in the Boyle Sports Handicap.
Making the breakthrough at Navan last month, the Claire O’Connell-trained eight-year-old proved easy-to-back prior to this five-furlong heat and from 11/4 early, he was returned an 11/2 chance. Prominent throughout under Jack Kearney, the David Laverty-owned bay travelled strongly and led narrowly from the two-furlong pole, keeping on well when ridden in the closing stages, coming home a length to the good.
“This one came up a little bit quick, and we probably won’t go as quick again, but we do have to use the ground as it is key,” O’Connell revealed. “Once the ground is soft, we have to make use of it.”
Dreams come true
O’Connell’s two representatives failed to make an impact in the Mac Tar Handicap, with the Eamonn Delany-trained Dream Legend springing a 40/1 surprise in this three-year-old-only heat.
Owned by Delany and his daughter-in-law Lisa, and beating just one rival home on his first five starts, the 48-rated chesnut showed promise on recent outings at Dundalk.
Tracking the leaders under Leigh Roche and getting a dream run through on the inner with two furlongs to go, he soon improved into a narrow lead and kept on well for pressure, prevailing by a length and a quarter.
“I think there is a bit more to come - he’s very green and when he hit the front, he didn’t know what to do,” Alan Delany, assistant trainer to his father Eamonn, said. “He might come back here in July.”
HIS Majesty’s Cup Handicap went the way of Johnny Murtagh for the second year running, with his Bay Of Supremacy (11/4 favourite) proving too good for nine rivals.
One of two three-year-olds in the line-up, the 75-rated bay made virtually all under Patrick McGettigan and responded well when ridden.
The pair came home a length and a quarter to the good for the Kildare and Kilmichael Racing Syndicates.
“He was (professional), he’s a game little horse and tries his best every day,” the winning rider reflected.
“I’d say ground is a massive factor to him, and it looked like a brilliant option coming here today when he was getting weight off the older horses.
“He ended last season really well and brought that form into this year.”
King gains crown
In the colours of Mudassar Rafiq, Lahore Da King (14/1) also had a length and a quarter to spare in the Boyle Sports Handicap.
Twice successful at Dundalk in November, the Tony Mullins-trained four-year-old raced towards rear early, making good progress on the outer approaching halfway.
Ridden and in a share of the lead with two furlongs to go, the 67-rated chesnut outfought Mehman inside the final 150 yards, with 7/2 favourite Goldrush Kid unfortunately going wrong approaching halfway.
“I rode him work two weeks ago and he was going well,” winning rider Yudish Geerdharry revealed.
“Today, the ground was a bit of a worry, but he got through it.
“When I gave him a kick, he picked up and fought to the line well.”