NICOLA Burns came in for a winning spare ride aboard in-form Aurora Nova (85/40 favourite) in the Indaver Ireland Handicap over an extended five furlongs at Bellewstown.
The six-year-old mare, owned by the Dreams Of Glory Racing Syndicate, made virtually all from stall two and cranked up the pressure on her rivals approaching the final furlong.
Billie Be Quick switched and out finished off her race well in second, but ran out of turf as she was beaten by a length and a half.
Burns said: “Poor Jamie (Powell) had a fall, so it is a good spare to pick up. Big thanks to the owners and trainer (Andrew McNamara).
“I was very happy, she broke very smart. I kept hold of her head going across the road and, when I sent her, she galloped on to the line.”
Exceeding breaks through
Long-standing maiden Exceeding made the breakthrough on the 21st time of asking in the Ploughman Bar And Grill Handicap over an extended seven-furlongs.
Andy Slattery’s Exceed And Excel gelding was backed at morning prices before going off at 8/1.
Andy’s son, jockey and namesake, Andrew Slattery brought him to challenge a furlong down and they took over in the closing stages.
The pair kept on best to beat Cleopatra’s Needle by a length and a half for the Punchestown Friends Syndicate.
Assistant trainer Brian Slattery said: “He does promise more at home than what he delivers.
“He promises a lot more, but it is great he got his head in front.”
RED Autumn (9/4) emphatically overturned form with Elly Bay in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden. Dermot Weld’s filly finished just under five lengths behind third-placed Elly Bay in seventh when they both started out at Leopardstown last month.
In this contest, she took over from Elly Bay in the final quarter of a mile and asserted in the final furlong to sweep home by five lengths for Moyglare Stud Farm.
Jockey Chris Hayes said: “I thought the way she hit the line (in Leopardstown), with normal improvement she would win one of those.
“I rode her on Friday morning and Fiona (Craig, Moyglare Stud) and the boss were there and I said ‘she’s after working like a winner.
“I was confident I’d make up the five lengths, but I didn’t think I would make up 10 lengths!
“I’m not sure how strong a race it was and I got a lovely tow, and it was like a piece of work to me.”
Shocking win
Oiche Rua was a shock 33/1 winner of the Champion Lettings Handicap over the extended seven furlongs. She was well back in the field at the halfway stage, but began to make her move on the outer in the final couple of furlongs.
Ronan Whelan rode her into a threatening position racing to the final furlong and she grabbed a narrow advantage inside the furlong pole. From there, she kept on well to see off Eric Lock by half a length.
Ado McGuinness said: “She ran too bad to be true the last day in Cork and couldn’t find out what it was. I wasn’t going to declare her, but I said to Alex (Zevenbergen, owner) we would declare her and see where we go.
“She was drawn wide and I just said to Ronan ‘they could go hard here and try to pick up the pieces’. That’s exactly what he did and she came home really, really well, so I was very happy.”
AFTER showing promise in two maidens, the Bill Durkan-trained Parkside Lad got off the mark in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over an extended five furlongs.
The even-money favourite came with a sustained rattle in the final furlong to pick up and pass Star Of Sapphire in the closing stages. He beat that newcomer by half a length in the hands of Gary Carroll for Stracklevin Stud Farms Ltd.
Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: “I knew he would put his head down and gallop. We were in a lot of trouble the last day in Navan and he picked up, so I knew he would find for me.
“It is the one we wanted - we have trained (winners) from five furlongs to four miles two furlongs. It is a proud moment to me and it is my local track. I walk the dog around here plenty and I know every blade of grass of this place.”
Foley’s wise words
Patrick McGettigan received a briefing from Shane Foley about Steps In The Sand before the McNallys Pharmacy Apprentice Handicap and it proved inspired. A wall of horses held chances racing into the final furlong and McGettigan produced Steps In The Sands to finish strongly.
She came through in the final 150 yards and hit the line with half a length to spare at 6/1 for the Zoom Buddies Syndicate.
Ciaran Murphy said: “He gave her a lovely straightforward ride and sort of got the run of the race. I’m delighted with her. Shane Foley rode her the last day and came out beforehand and gave him a really good briefing.”
Joseph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin went off 4/11 favourite for the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Crockafotha (Q.R.) Race and John Gleeson kept it simple by making all. The pair kept up the gallop to come in by two lengths for Sean and Bernardine Mulryan.
Stable representative Mick Halford said: “It is lovely to get opportunities for these horses because they are not the easiest to place. These races are a great help when they come along. It should set him up lovely and fill him full of confidence now, and he will go on to Galway.”