THE Castlebridge Consignment Blenheim Stakes over six furlongs was the feature at Fairyhouse on Monday evening and market principals Livenka and Big Negotiator were at the head of affairs throughout.

The former tried to make all under Colin Keane, but Big Negotiator (9/4), in the colours of Bond Thoroughbred Limited and conceding 3lb to her rival after landing the Marwell Stakes at Naas in July, got past her close home under a strong drive from Billy Lee to score by half a length.

“She had good form. It’s her eighth run, she’s hardy, tough, sound and she loves fast ground,” said trainer Paddy Twomey.

“I said to Billy that I thought six around a bend would be ideal. Six on a straight line could be tricky, as she has a lot of speed.

“She did go six and almost 100 yards in Listowel at the start of her career and just got chinned, so I thought it was possible.

“She could go to the Legacy Stakes at Dundalk in a couple of weeks’ time.”

Well-timed run

Lee had earlier produced Naoi (4/1 joint-favourite) with a well-timed challenge for a snug win in the La Bucca Restaurant Handicap over seven furlongs.

Owned in partnership by legendary Liverpool number 9 Ian Rush and breeder Michael Ryan, the Siyouni filly is a granddaughter of dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo and beat Moyassr a length.

“I was meant to run last weekend, but she didn’t get into the race in Chester,” explained trainer Willie McCreery.

“I told Ian and Mick that we’d come here for this race, and Mick was a bit disappointed as he likes to have runners in Listowel, but I said the quick ground would suit her better here.”

JOHNNY Murtagh and Ben Coen combined for a double with their first winner being Divine Legend, who carried the colours of the late John Connaughton, in the Kilminfoyle House Stud Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.

Runner-up on her previous two starts, the 9/4 joint-favourite scored by a length and a half from outsider Orellana.

“She’s been running very consistently and this looked like a good fit,” said Murtagh. “She was staying on well the last day over a mile, but Ben said she’d have no problem dropping back, she has a bit of speed.

“She’s a fine big filly, by Blue Point, and I think there is still a bit to come.”

Sent off the well-backed 4/5 favourite, Pink Venom was a decisive winner of the seven-runner nursery, beating stablemate Prince Of Peppard by two and a quarter lengths.

“I did fancy her, I thought she ran very well in Naas (behind Timeless Tale) and I think that was a very good maiden,” said Murtagh of Noel Hartley’s daughter of Soldier’s Call.

“She still has to strengthen up a little bit, physically. She’s a pretty decent filly, I think, and I’d be expecting her to improve nicely.”

PREVALENCE (9/1) was a winner for Ger Lyons in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over seven furlongs.

Colin Keane settled the Juddmonte-owned daughter of Dark Angel in mid-division before producing her to challenge at the furlong pole, and she went away to beat Back Down Under by a length and three-quarters. “That was brilliant. She’s a law unto herself, but she keeps producing,” said Lyons. “She’s won three now, and winning three over here is a great result for a filly.

“I think she’s en route to the sales and we’ll have a cut at the Cooley Stakes at Dundalk. It would be great to get some blacktype and would be no more than she deserves. When she does things like that, you’d think there is blacktype in her, but she has her own way of doing things.”

Coen flies to victory

The Winter Festival Early Bird Ticket Claiming Race over seven furlongs was the opener and Shesthedevil (11/4) beat five rivals in the hands of Sam Coen.

Coen had arrived with just a few minutes to spare after flying in a light aircraft from Listowel, steered by jump jockey, jockeys’ valet and pilot Sean Flanagan, where he had finished second on his sole ride on that card.

Trained by Paddy Magee for the Black Steel Square Syndicate, the Cotai Glory filly got home by half a length from Cudawudashuda, with the latter subsequently claimed for €10,000 by Dundalk-based handler Michael Rice.

“I had no luck in Listowel earlier, but thankfully I made it up here for this,” said Coen, who holds a narrow lead in the apprentice title race.

Surprise success

The Declan Sheridan-owned Caffu Zafeen came good at odds of 22/1 in the six-furlong handicap.

Shay Wallace’s 7lb claim meant that the Exceed And Excel gelding had just eight stone on his back and he came from mid-division to beat Nouvel Espoir by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s been kind of disappointing to be honest,” said winning trainer Paul Flynn.

“Maybe turning helped him, as his wind wouldn’t be great. He had an operation as a young horse. I went to do his wind, but realised he had an operation before, so we couldn’t do it.

“I think turning might have assisted him, kept him interested a bit longer. We were in a straight line all year.

“He ran quite well at Navan last time and was probably over-priced. All the lads had a few quid on him. I wouldn’t have backed him!”