JOSEPH O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle joined forces to record a double at the Curragh on Saturday. Galen brought up the double for O’Brien and McMonagle when making all to win the Tote.ie Alleged Stakes (Group 3). Carrying the colours of Barry Taylor, T G Fitzgerald, Paul H Redmond and Barry Fowler, the 6/1 chance stayed on strongly to win by two and a half lengths.
“He’s always been a good horse and he ran well in Dubai a few times, where he just didn’t get the rub of the green,” said O’Brien. “Dylan didn’t think there was much pace and was happy to go to the front.
“If you look at his form his best runs are probably when he was ridden very positive. He just struggled when he went up in class to get to the lead over a mile. I think the step up in trip has allowed him to get to the front again.”
Winning debut
Newcomer Green Sense set the ball rolling when making a winning debut in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Irish EBF Maiden.
Sent off 5/2 favourite, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned filly scored by three lengths. O’Brien said: “We liked what we saw at home and thought she was ready to run well, but didn’t expect her to win like that.
“I thought she might need the run and there was a nice fillies’ race for her in two weeks’ time that we’d come back for. The dream is that might be an Ascot filly. I think we’d probably look to go either to the Marble Hill or Naas next and then Ascot.”
PADDY Twomey and Billy Lee landed the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) with One Look. Sent off 9/2, the Connolly Racing Syndicate-owned filly asserted inside the final furlong to win by one and three-quarter lengths.
“I was hoping that she’d do something like that,” said Twomey. “She’s a filly that didn’t blossom at the start of last year and we gave her a chance. She’s tough and I think a mile is the minimum for now. 10 furlongs will be well within her compass.
“She’ll have an entry in the Lanwades Stakes. She’s a group winner now and we’ll try and go as far up the ladder as we can. The ability was never in question, it was just last spring she wasn’t ready to do what the world expected her to do. She’ll probably prove yet that she is that kind of filly.”
Winning Return
No Return made all under Colin Keane to win the Tote Multiples Available On Tote.ie Irish EBF Maiden. Owned by Ray Behan, the 6/1 chance found plenty for pressure to register a two-and-a-quarter-length victory.
Trainer Danny Murphy said: “We ran him last Sunday in Cork but he didn’t travel well in the lorry, he got very keyed up and sweaty. We left him in the paddock for the week and I only train a mile from the track here. He put back on the weight that he lost. It’s great to win.”
Rock solid form
Patrick McKenna sent out Cuban Grey to take the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap. Owned by the McKenna Partnership, the 4/1 chance asserted close home under Rory Mulligan to win by three-quarters of a length.
McKenna reported: “He’s a fine wee horse and that’s his third win for me. He has strengthened up a bit and, hopefully, he’s not finished yet.
“His form is rock solid and we’re lucky to have him, let’s see how far he can go. That’s Rory’s third winner for me. He’s a great lad and comes up and does a bit of riding at Dundalk for us.”
THE Jack Davison-trained Stop The Nation stayed on best inside the final furlong to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. Ridden by James Ryan, the New Recruits Partnership-owned 3/1 chance scored by half a length.
Ryan said: “It was very good. We just wanted to get him doing things right today. There was no pace the first day and he was a bit green, running around in front.
“You could see today he was green again, but when I gave him a kick at the furlong pole he really stretched out and put it to bed. I thought it was a very good performance. I think on the feel he gave me today that we’re very hopeful he can be a stakes horse.”
Neo Smart justified 4/1 favourite in the Watch Every Race Live From The Curragh Only On Racing TV Handicap for Jim Bolger and Declan McDonogh. The Mrs Jackie Bolger-owned winner had half a length in hand.
Down to the boss
Travelling Head Man Ger Flynn said: “She’s in again on Wednesday at Gowran Park and all being well she’ll probably go again, but that’s down to the boss.
“She ran well the last day in Leopardstown to finish fourth and Ross (Coakley) was very happy with her.
“It’s good to get her back because she’s showing us now on the track what she shows at home. Declan said he was always getting there and she’s gutsy. She’s a nice filly, she’s tall and still maturing.”
Gazelle D’or led close home under Jack Cleary to win the concluding Download The Tote App Handicap. The Aidan Gleeson and Joseph E Keeling-owned 16/1 chance had a nose to spare over Rathbranchurch.
Winning trainer Michael Grassick said: “She likes a tight finish! I don’t like running three-year-olds against older horses so early in the season but she was a hardened two-year-old, with plenty of runs, and I thought it was worth a shot with the 12lb and Jack’s 5lb. We’ll probably find a similar type of race and then see how far she can improve.”