GAVIN Ryan renewed an association with Noel Meade when they landed the Boyle Sports Ulster Derby with Madbadanddangerous (18/1).

The jockey settled his mount in rear of the nine runners, and they began to get closer with a furlong to race.

The Coulsty gelding availed of a lovely seam and stayed on strongly to pick up Pierre Grosse close home for a three-quarter-length success.

Ryan, in Seamus Hunt’s colours, said: “They were fairly inclined to stay off it (rail) so, if anything, I probably had the freshest ground right underneath the rail that hasn’t really been used.

“I rode a good few winners for Noel, mainly when I was claiming. I think my first winner for him was Helvic Dream in Roscommon (2019). He was very good to me through my apprentice days.

“Obviously, he has Colin (Keane) there mainly riding for him, and Adam (Caffrey) goes into him, and Jack Kearney I think rides a bit as well. So, without a claim I’m probably not much use to him. Delighted to get one for him.”

Chica in charge

Mark Fahey was delighted to see Chica Guerrera’s consistency rewarded in the Boyle Sports Irish EBF Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap over the extended 10 furlongs.

The four-year-old filly made headway in third a quarter of a mile out and travelled well in second a furlong and a half down. Ronan Whelan sent her on at the furlong pole and she soon moved clear. The 4/1 shot kept on well and was eased close home in scoring by six and a half lengths.

Fahey said: “The lads (Trouble & Strife Syndicate) came up from Kilkenny. It is great for them, and she is a good filly. They enjoy her and knock good craic out of her. Ronan was excellent on her, and he is after winning the (Epsom) Derby and the Oaks!”

CHARM Of Venice (16/1) got off the mark at the third time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Gary Carroll tracked the leaders aboard the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica and asked her for her effort two furlongs down.

She was ridden to the front with a furlong to go and kept on nicely to strike by two and three quarter lengths. Owner/trainer Andy Oliver said: “She’s just physically improving. She’s quite a tall filly and she just is coming into herself.

“She had a bit of an accident prior to racing at Naas the last time and had to be taken out of the race. Delayed her a bit.

“She was declared the last time for 10 furlongs, so we thought 10 was her trip. We were seeing that at home, so we wanted to make sure it came to the racecourse.”

Double for Carroll

Carroll fired in a double courtesy of Albatala who sluiced up in the Mongey Communications Handicap over an extended mile and a quarter.

Once Carroll sent her on two furlongs out, the race was soon over. She poured the pressure on her rivals and shot clear with a furlong to negotiate. From there, she sailed in by a whopping 12 lengths at 11/2 for Salutem Technology Limited.

Trainer John McConnell said: “Too impressive! The ground is important to her. She loved that ground and the last day was probably too quick for her. I think anything with ‘good’ in it is probably too quick for her. She has hurdle form as well, so she might mix it through the summer.”

TEOLOGIA is a filly moving through the grades and added to her maiden success at this track last month when hacking up in the Belfast Live: Number 1 For News And Sport Handicap.

Eyes were drawn to Joseph O’Brien’s representative who tanked into the lead with two furlongs to travel, and she skipped clear of the field at the furlong marker. Joey Sheridan kept her up to her work to come in by five and a half lengths at 11/4 for San Paolo Agri-Stud Srl.

Stable representative Mick Halford said: “It was a lovely race for her, and we knew she would handle the track obviously from the last day.

“She seemed to appreciate the ease in the ground, so she stepped forward and she did that nicely. She could be a big filly that’s on the improve.”

Close finish

Deluca Chop (9/2) added to his Navan gains just under a fortnight ago with a battling success in the Mount Charles Handicap.

Paddy Harnett guided him into a share of the lead inside the final furlong, and his momentum saw the seven-year-old gelding edge ahead close home to win by a neck for trainer Shane Duffy and owner Sean Dalton.

Harnett said: “I had to do my lightest weight on him, but he was coming here in good form and the ground turned up soft which he really relished. I was taking him back all the way and he was really, really loving it.

“Down into the straight, he just picked them off one by one and hit the line good.”

Galway bound

Counting Coup may have been an unconsidered 25/1 shot for the Event Co Marquees Maiden, but he put in a smart-staying performance to win by three lengths. He was in front fully two and a half furlongs out under Nathan Crosse and proved too strong for Daddy Long Legs at the business end of this extended mile and half assignment.

Trainer Maurice Ahern, who owns the six-year-old gelding with John O’Shaughnessy, said: “I have him three years and he just ran into a few little problems. We’ll probably go to Galway now for a maiden hurdle.”