THE Joseph O’Brien-trained Beset will run in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at Parislongchamp early next month, after her taking success in the Listed Irish EBF Oyster Stakes at Galway on Tuesday.

Owned in partnership by broadcasters Kevin Blake and Nick Luck, Emma Palmer and Michael Wilson, the 2/1 favourite completed doubles on the day for both Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh, as she recorded her third win at listed level.

She was well on top too, leading home a 1-2-3 for her trainer, asserting from the home turn to score by three and a quarter lengths from Chablis Rock, with Galileo Dame three-parts of a length away in third place. O’Brien sent out seven of the 15 runners in all.

Kevin Blake commented: “This is great, as everyone involved has had to be patient. After her run in the Mooresbridge, we said we wouldn’t race her again until the ground was soft, as she is really effective on it.

“We wanted to have her fresh for a good autumn and, while it would have been great to find a group race, this fitted in lovely. She was carrying a penalty, but it was an easy race to watch and she was impressive.

“We’ll swing big now and the Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend fits in with the timings. After that, we have Champions Day at Ascot and there’s also a Group 1 in Germany in November. I wouldn’t like to rule out bringing her back in next year, as fillies who like soft ground are so hard to find. She is a queen.”

Redemption

O’Brien and McDonogh were earlier winners with Go Racing’s two-year-old Leadlight, who bounced back from a defeat at odds of 2/5 favourite at Navan late last month in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Aidan O’Brien’s 4/7 favourite City Of Gold appeared to have the 11/4 chance beaten off at the furlong pole, but he came with a renewed effort and got up in the dying strides to score by a short head.

Blake commented: “He was a little bit unfortunate the last day, so it was good to get compensation, and he was very strong coming up the hill today. This looked a better race on paper, although I don’t know how deep it was.”

FOURTH in a barrier trial at Leopardstown last month, the John O’Donoghue-trained Mary Doll landed the Irish EBF Median Sires Fillies Maiden at odds of 66/1.

Rory Mulligan produced the outsider to challenge on the run to the straight and she asserted over a furlong out, sticking to her task to prevail by a neck in the colours of Paul Hyland.

O’Donoghue said: “She had an away day at Dundalk and a barrier trial done, so we wanted to deliver first time, so this is great. To do it for the Hylands is great too, as they have been great supporters of mine since day one.”

Bang there

Rory Mulligan matched Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh when completing a double of his own, at remarkable odds of 1,272/1, when partnering the Liam McAteer-trained Bang Po to win the Racing In The City Of Tribes Handicap for the Daltt Syndicate.

Racing from 9lb out of the handicap proper, the 18/1 chance easily picked off Imperial Dream inside the final furlong to win by four and a quarter lengths.

It was a second career double for the winning jockey and a first winner since July 2022 for McAteer, who said: “I had lots of winners here at the festival down through the years. I have yearlings for sales nowadays, but could do with a few new owners if there’s anybody out there!

“My daughter Pamela works for the IHRB and is the judge today, so this is fantastic. Rory is a next-door neighbour of mine; I know his dad well and we were all reared together. He is a great little rider.”

Way home

Coulstys Way flashed home for a last-gasp victory in the Boyle Sports Apprentice Handicap, a race that was started by flag for operational reasons.

The 15/2 chance and Reece Holohan wore down the front-running Canon Law in the final few strides to win by half a length for trainer Pat Magee, who said: “She has been unlucky all year; she didn’t get much of a run in Listowel and I trained her for the festival here in July, but she got brought down when I think she’d have finished second.

“It is great to get that and Charles Cranston and his mates have been very patient. She loves soft ground, so she’ll be kept busy now and will rock on to Listowel.”

DERMOT Weld’s Zadawa (100/30) is to step up to listed class, following her authoritative win in the Sean Cleary Memorial Fillies Maiden. Chris Hayes’ mount looked to appreciate the step up in trip to 12 furlongs and romped to an eight-length win over 50/1 shot Hey Stella.

Weld commented: “She did it well and had run a very good race when finishing second in Cork.

“She stays well, loves a mile and four furlongs and the Bluebell Stakes at Naas has been on my mind for a while and today won’t change my mind.”

Home-bred success

Owned and bred by John Bourke, Lord Massusus gained his first success since April of last year in the Donnellys Of Barna Rated Race.

The Joe Murphy-trained six-year-old was recording his eighth career success, each with Gary Carroll in the saddle, a haul that includes two premier handicaps and three stakes races. The 5/1 shot led off the home turn before stretching clear to score by a most comfortable four lengths from Lady Arwen.

Murphy said: “It was a nice race to win for the horse’s mentality. We love him, he is a family horse, so we are able to forgive him and he won well today.

“He is in the Northfields at the weekend and, years ago, you’d be killed for winning this and then running in a big handicap. He has a 7lb penalty, which knocks him out a bit, but I don’t see why he won’t run.”

Landmark win

Former international player and football pundit Kevin Doyle enjoyed his first winner as a racehorse owner, as the John McConnell-trained 10/1 shot Aquilla Star notched her first success in the James P. Cunningham Electrical Handicap.

The three-year-old got a great run on the rail under Siobhan Rutledge and hit the front with over a furlong to race, coming home three and a quarter lengths to the good over Cladach.

Rutledge commented: “I’m more of a racing fan and don’t follow too much football, but the lads say that Kevin is a big deal!

“She had a good run when finishing second in Ballinrobe and came to the Galway festival with two entries, and ran twice.

“She got a little bit bumped leaving the stalls the first day and was also a bit unlucky the second day, but was very impressive today.”