BACK with trainer Robson de Aguiar having been with Kevin Philippart de Foy when down the field in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, Force Noir (6/4 favourite) came from off the pace under Ben Coen to beat four rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over five furlongs.

An impressive maiden winner at Naas in April, the Amo Racing-owned colt missed the break, but was helped by a strong tempo up front and led inside the final furlong to beat Hanney Boy by two and a half lengths.

“I think he could be a really good sprinter. I like these Persian Forces because the more you ask them, the more they find,” said the winning trainer.

He was supplimented for today’s Middle Park and his trainer also added: “We’ll think about the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.”

Value increasing

Third in a barrier trial at Leopardstown last month, Value Pending (12/1) put that experience to good use when making a winning start in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlongs.

The daughter of Harry Angel, trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by Ann Marshall, travelled well in mid-division and improved to lead a furlong out to beat outsider Thumama Glory by a length and a half.

“She was very professional at home but to do it first time out around here, after being drawn out in 14, was a good effort,” said rider Joey Sheridan. “She went through the race with plenty of class.”

Doubling up

O’Brien completed a double when Kilcrea Rock (4/1) took the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Apprentice Handicap over a mile and a half.

A maiden winner here in May, Michael O’Flynn’s homebred son of Wootton Bassett was fitted with a visor for the first time and raced a little keenly, but that didn’t stop him getting home by a comfortable length and a quarter from Merlin The Wizard.

“I felt we were going a little bit slow down the back and I thought my only way to have a chance of winning was to sit three-parts off the leader and make the pace go on a little bit more,” said rider Shay Wallace. “I think the visor helped him to concentrate a bit more when I needed him from the one to the winning post.”

PROMINENT racers held sway in the seven-furlong handicap which was won by Mickey The Steel (9/1).

Rory Mulligan set steady fractions in front on Lisa Sheridan’s durable eight-year-old who pulled out enough to score by half a length from strong-travelling favourite Send Harry.

It was a sixth career win for Mickey The Steel, led up by trainer Joseph Murray.

“He used to be good over five furlongs in soft or heavy ground a couple of years ago, but he goes on any ground and he wants that distance when it’s a bit quicker, especially up here,” said Mulligan.

Good partnership

Conor Cusack has struck up a good partnership with Starflow and guided the Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding to victory in the SIS, Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Handicap over a mile.

Cusack rode the Henry de Bromhead-trained three-year-old to win at Cork last month at odds of 25/1.

Here, having been sent off an easy-to-back 10/1 chance, the Starman gelding was always prominent and fought off the challenge of Storm Eric by half a length.

“Since his Cork run, he’s come on plenty at home and his work has improved,” reported Cusack.

“I loved his attitude today, the blinkers definitely seem to be doing their job with him,” the Starflow jockey added

MOUNTRATH youngster Reese Holohan drove home another winner in the Bar 1 Betting Handicap over the extended mile and a quarter.

28/1 were the odds of reward about Wild Berries, who stepped up on previous form to record a decisive breakthrough success.

Holohan settled John Bowden’s Acclamation filly in mid-division before producing her to lead over a furlong out, from where she pulled three and half lengths clear of Jazz Forever.

“We thought last year that she’d be well capable of winning,” said trainer Ross O’Sullivan after sending out his third winner in four days.

“When she came back this year, she just seemed to struggle and we couldn’t work out what trip she wanted. We said we’d go up in trip again, at this stage it was try anything. We might have a bit of fun with her now up here for the winter.”

Paddy Harnett rode his 20th winner of the campaign as Donnacha O’Brien’s Numantia (1/3 favourite) got off the mark at the fourth attempt in the maiden over an extended mile and a quarter.

The grey son of St Mark’s Basilica, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Barry Fowler, had shown plenty of promise in Curragh maidens and scored in workmanlike fashion, defeating Trustmore by a length and a quarter.

“He surprised me up the straight. He was a bit behind the bridle the whole way around and when I turned in, I gave him a kick and he got upsides and then shot off and landed in front,” said the winning rider.

“It was sooner than I would have liked, but when he heard the other horses coming again, he kicked on well and hit the line really well.

“He’s a big horse and it’s the first run since we gelded him. He’s been doing things nice and easy at home since his last run.”