DANIEL McLoughlin’s excellent season continued when Magny Cours (5/1 – 9/1) gave him his third stakes winner of the year in the featured Group 3 Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear Stakes.

Patiently ridden by Ben Coen, she travelled strongly before switching right over a furlong out. The Ecurie Ama Zingteam-owned filly quickened up to lead inside the final furlong and was driven out to win by two and a half lengths from Dancing Saxon (4/1).

“On her run in Leopardstown she showed what she’s capable of, especially when she’s able to get her toe in,” said McLoughlin.

“It’s brilliant when a plan works out. Ben gave her an excellent ride. Sometimes when she gets there, she doesn’t really go away as well as she did there today. She’s really strengthened up and is a good-sized filly now.

“Ben thinks seven is her trip. She holds an entry in the Prix de la Foret. She’ll have to take on the colts but it’s seven furlongs. The owner enjoys runners in France, and it could be an exciting end to the year with a bit of luck.

“Today is as relieved as I’ve been and it’s as good a kick as I’ve got out of any winner.”

Foret rival

Well-supported Bamako Beach (2/1 – 11/8F) supplemented his recent maiden win by scoring in the Glenvale Stud Race. The son of Sands Of Mali raced freely under Seamie Heffernan and was asked for his effort two furlongs out. He led a furlong out, and despite edging left close home, he won eased down by two and three-quarter lengths from Benevento (5/2).

“He’s a horse that we’ve thought a lot of,” said Michael O’Callaghan. “This was a good race. We have the (Prix de la) Foret in our head for him and there is a Group 3 in a few weeks, called the Prix de Pin, in France. We may go for that or go straight to the Foret.

“He only had one run as a two-year-old and he finds things very easy. He’s a bit over-enthusiastic and sometimes they can be a bit slow to learn. He’s done everything we could have hoped for, and we’ll take a shot now.”

Day to savour for Micheal Byrne

WELL-BACKED favourite Likedbymike (6/1- 11/4F) won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes. Slowly away, Colin Keane tracked the early pace and was the last to commit over a furlong out. Michael Byrne’s filly quickened at the furlong pole to lead and held Erosandpsyche (11/2) by three-quarters of a length.

“That’s unbelievable. It means everything,” enthused Byrne. “She deserved that, she’s been knocking on the door a good few times. She got great confidence from winning in Naas.

“We’ve only two horses to run and we ran them today. We couldn’t get this one into a breeze-up so we had to run her. There is a fillies’ listed race at the Curragh next month so that’s probably where we’ll go next. This doesn’t happen too often to us.”

Narrow margin

Keane was narrowly denied in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden, as the Joseph O’Brien-trained Eighteenth Smiles prevailed by a short head on his seventh start.

Declan McDonagh’s mount was positioned toward the rear of mid-division before coming under pressure three furlongs from home. A market drifter from 6/1 to 14/1, the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned State Of Rest colt stayed on well to lead inside the final 100 yards and repel the fast-finishing Roy Bean (13/2) to win.

O’Brien’s race planner Kevin Blake said: “He probably deserved that. He was a bit slow to get going. Declan was very strong on him.

“It’s great to get him off the mark for the Annus Mirabilis guys. He had a lot of running to do turning in but he put his head down and tried all the way to the line. Hopefully he win another one. He’ll stay as far as he can get this year.”

Happy outcome

Feel Happy (4/1) justified market confidence in the Cork Maiden. The Coolmore partners’ daughter of Wootton Bassett was always handy and travelled best into the final two furlongs. She picked up under Paddy Harnett and stayed on strongly to deny Grande Cuvee (3/1F) by a head in the dying strides.

“She toughed it out, in fairness. She’s improving so I’m delighted,” commented winning trainer Donnacha O’Brien.

“She has good pedigree and is a nice-looking filly so it’s important to get a win into her. She’s rated 73 so she’s a little bit off getting blacktype, even though that’s the next goal. We’ll take her home and make a plan.”

ANDY Slattery Senior began a double with a one-three in the Book Tickets Online At www.corkracecourse.ie Apprentice Handicap, with Sunrise Angel (5/1CF) scoring over the mile.

Always handy under Jimmy Dalton, The Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate’s gelding took the lead over a furlong out and stayed on to beat Cause I Like You (8/1) by three and a half lengths.

Slattery said: “I thought this horse would be rated a lot higher by now. He was disappointing and was hanging in his races. Thanks to (vet) Ger Kelly who spotted a thing with kissing spines. We had him treated for it and it seems to have made a difference. It’s only three weeks since he was done and he should improve a bit from the run. We didn’t do a lot with him since.”

Lauderdale King capped off a tremendous week for the Slattery team as he scored comprehensively in the Follow Us On Instagram Handicap.

Andy Slattery Jnr settled the four-year-old prominently behind two clear leaders before travelling smoothly to dispute the lead over two furlongs out. Backed from 11/2 into the 2/1 favourite, Rory Brennan’s gelding soon went clear and was eased close home, beating Justenzia (8/1) by two and a quarter lengths.

“He was crying out for a bit of ease in the ground, so we fancied him today when we got a bit of rain,” said the winning trainer.

“Hopefully he’ll get another one in that grade. He jumps well and he’ll go over hurdles. He’s a grand horse. He did what we expected today.”