MR Percy landed a nice prize on his return to the flat at the Curragh on Wednesday when running out a game winner of the €50,000 Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding went to post a well-supported 2/1 shot in the mile and six contest and overcame a tardy start to settle behind the leaders.

Wayne Hassett had to wait for a gap in the straight on Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s charge, but got his run up the inner in the closing stages to collar Jabbar by a neck.

O’Brien said afterwards: “Cheekpieces, delivering him late and good ground are probably the three things that suit him.

“Ascot might be a bit soon. He could go to Galway and come back here for the Cesarewitch. He’s probably going to be out of the weights in the Ebor. You’d love to go there but it might not be the right thing to do for the horse.”

Blacktype the target

There was also the same pot on offer in the Sky Bet Handicap over five furlongs and Gazelle D’or swooped from last to first to grab the lion’s share.

Wayne Lordan delivered the Michael Grassick-trained filly with a strong surge inside the final furlong as the 14/1 shot recorded a length victory over Brigid’s Cloak.

“We’ll maybe try and find a bit of blacktype, there are plenty of races for her and there might be another nice handicap somewhere,” said Grassick.

“The way she won you’d be sticking at five with her. The last day nothing followed the front two. She likes to take her time but, when nothing followed, she ended up being too far back.”

AIDAN O’Brien saddled the first two home in the opening Sky Bet For The Fans Irish EBF Maiden, both by sire sensation Wootton Bassett.

Amadeus Mozart went to post a 10/11 shot and was prominent throughout, under Ryan Moore. He led just inside the final furlong and held stablemate Dorset close home for a half-length win.

“They are lovely, big horses, they were never away so they are going to come forward plenty,” said O’Brien of the first two.

“Ryan liked him (the winner). He said he was a lovely horse and he wouldn’t mind stepping up. He’ll be a lovely horse next year, he’s a very big horse and was very green.”

Flushing Meadows, another son of Wootton Bassett, also made a winning start in the following Businessplus.ie Irish EBF Maiden.

Moore sent his mount to the front a furlong and a half from home and the 5/2 shot stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a length and a half win.

“I’m delighted with him, he’s a lovely horse,” said O’Brien.

“Again he was never away and he’ll come forward loads. He’ll have no problem getting seven furlongs. The reason those horses were here was in case they were Ascot horses.

“Ryan said he’s lovely but that Ascot might be a little bit too quick for him and to give him a little bit of time. He doesn’t have to step up in trip and he might come back here for the Railway.”

Harrington off Cold list

Cold Hearted ended a frustrating run of placed efforts for Jessica Harrington when landing the Spar Shop At The Curragh Maiden. The Blue Point filly chased down front-runner Stella Alpina inside the final furlong to record a half-length win under Shane Foley.

Harrington, who trains the 3/1 winner for Newtown Anner Stud Farm, said afterwards: “She deserved that, I deserved it too after all the seconds I was getting! She toughed it out well, which was great. They went very quick and it helped her.

“We’ll maybe look for a three-year-old only handicap over the six furlongs. We’ll probably put her in a good one and keep her on a light weight - there’s not much of her, but she tries very hard.”

IN the Gannon Interiors Fillies Maiden, over a mile and a half, It’s A Heartbeat quickened up smartly to open her account. The John O’Donoghue-trained filly went to post a 7/1 shot having been fourth on her debut at Naas.

She led two furlongs from home and soon asserted for Ronan Whelan to post a two-and-a-half-length win over Jannah Star. The winning trainer said: “We always liked her, her pedigree is lovely. Thankfully, Sven and Carina (Hanson) sent us Saltwell at the end of last year, so we’ve trained her sister and we knew that she’d chill out lovely over a mile and a half.

“She’s all about next year. We’ll take our time now and won’t do anything silly. We’ll pick something in 2026 and work back from that.”

Support justified

The money for Midnight Horizon (33/1 into 7/1) proved well founded in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap as the Denis Hogan-trained filly ran out an easy winner of the six-furlong contest.

She came with a strong surge under Joey Sheridan to lead inside the final furlong and post a cosy three-length success. Hogan said afterwards: “I was a little worried the ground would be too fast for her but the rain earlier did help. Going back to six she looks to have found her trip anyway.

“We were having issues with the stalls and she wears the blanket. I have to say thanks to the stall handlers who have been very patient with her. She’s only a three-year-old, so hopefully she’s progressive. It’s good to get a winner for Patrick (O’Brien) as well as he’s a good owner.”

Saturn rising

In the concluding Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap Saturn Seven bagged her first win since joining Eddie Lynam. The Sioux Nation filly, owned by the trainer’s brother John, was produced by Colin Keane inside the final furlong to record a length-and-a-quarter win.

Lynam said of the 12/1 winner: “I can’t any credit for her as Sarah (Lynam, daughter) does all the work with her. All I do is what I’m told, she rides her and trains her. I’m delighted for her, but I’m going to take her commission anyway!”