THE Johnny Murtagh-trained Retracement justified strong market support when staying on best under Ben Coen to win the 10-furlong DNG Handicap.
As big as 9/2, the Richard McNally-owned gelding was backed down to 7/4 favourite. Those that joined in the plunge would have feared the worst over a furlong out, as the four-year-old was caught in a pocket. However, once seeing daylight, Retracement quickened up smartly close home to win by half a length.
Murtagh said of his winner: “He’s a horse with a lot of ability, but he’s a little bit tricky. He’s starting to settle into the place now. He’s a bit keen and he was running with his head up in the air a bit.
“We fancied him a few times, but riding him the way we rode him it was always going to be tough to win. I thought coming today he was in good shape, he was after growing up.”
Unique Journey backed up his recent course win when landing the six-furlong DNG Handicap for trainer Danny Murphy.
The Nicholas Dalzell-owned gelding, who was sent off 10/3 favourite, travelled strongly before kicking on a furlong and a half from home by Colin Keane.
He soon settled matters, going on to record a cosy two-and-three-quarter length success.
“He’s a nice horse. I was delighted the ground changed to soft because he is a Caravaggio,” said Murphy. “We were very confident today. I had Colin Keane back on board, he won on him by seven-and-a-half lengths (at Naas back in April). He got a 16lb rise then, so he said he owed us one! He is in the October Horses-in-Training Sale.”
ROBERT Whearty extended his lead in the apprentices’ championship to three, when riding the Ger Lyons-trained Silk Braid to win the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Median Auction Race).
Sent off 7/1, the Abdulla Alkhalifa-owned debutante led over two furlongs out, keeping on well for a two-and-a-half-length success.
Shane Lyons said: “She was impressive, she showed that at home. We’re delighted for Jerome and Lisa (Hulin) that bred her and they also manage the Sheikh’s horses. It’s also brilliant for Robert, to get him a vital winner for the championship. She wants that ground and she’ll get a bit further next year.”
Dylan Browne McMonagle partnered the Joseph O’Brien-trained Acclamatic to win the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Smullen Series) (Median Auction Race) and maintain distance over Colin Keane in the jockeys’ title race.
Kept on well
Prominent throughout, the John Oxley-owned 7/2 chance kept on well close home to beat The Shandyman by half a length.
Browne McMonagle said: “He’s been hitting the crossbar. He races lazily, but he’s sharpened up with racing and I thought he travelled well today. Once he did get there and I got a couple of backhanders into him he was good and strong through the line.
“He was running through the gears nicely and I wasn’t really committing him until I got well inside the furlong and a half and then he was able to dig deep for the last furlong.”
Jockey Jessica O’Gorman continued a fine recent run of form when guiding the Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Mary Shoelaces to victory in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Apprentice Handicap.
Prominent from the off, the 11/2 chance soon led on the stands’ side. Pushed along to assert over a furlong out, the Mrs Eddie Harty-owned filly kept on well to score by half a length.
Eddie Harty said: “She’s a little dinger of a filly. The soft ground didn’t suit, but she’s in great form, and the yard is in good form. Jess said she’d go forward and I said ‘good idea’ so that was it.
“She’s won twice this season, so doesn’t need to do any more. If all of them did that, you’d be happy.”
DAWN Run’s famous silks were carried to success for the second time recently, as the Henry de Bromhead-trained Trubshaw landed the DNG Gold Handicap.
Tracking the leaders under Gabriella Hill, the Benjamin Hill-owned 11/1 chance went on with over six furlongs remaining. Travelling strongly over two furlongs out, the gelding quickened up impressively inside the final furlong to win by three and a half lengths.
“I knew he had freshened up well from his run in Thurles last week,” said Hill. “He’s a horse that stays, so I said I’d let him jump out in front and let him gallop because he’s a bit one-paced.
“I think he might go hurdling next year and might have a break now for the winter. This was kind of the last race for him.”
Front-running
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Appeared produced a fine front-running performance to win the Final Furlong Podcast Maiden.
Wayne Lordan asked his mount to assert passing the two pole and the Justify colt stuck on well in the closing stages to score by a half-length.
Sent off 2/1, the winner was owned by the Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Brant alliance. Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He had a lovely run here the last day and stepped forward. He’ll be even better when he gets on to quicker ground.
“Over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half there are plenty of races to be won with him. It’s nice to get him a winning bracket here before he goes (to sales) and Wayne gave him a lovely ride.”
Seventh win
Trained locally by Michael Grassick, Loingseoir recorded a seventh career win when staying on strongly to take the concluding 1xbet.ie Safer Gambling Handicap.
Held up in rear early on, the Keeling/Grassick-owned 28/1 chance cut through the field from over two furlongs out, getting to the front inside the last 150 yards, before holding Miss Nifty by a nose.
“Jack (Cleary) gave him a great ride. I told him to take his time as I knew there would be a good pace,” said Grassick.
“It set up nicely for him and he just held on. I wasn’t really expecting it as I thought his last three runs were disappointing. He probably only has another year in him, as he’s turning 10 next year. He’s been a great servant to the yard.”