JOSEPH O’Brien made off with the majority of the €200,000 pot for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic on Monday when saddling the first four home in the nine-furlong contest.

A quartet of runners represented Carriganog and they had it between them in the closing stages. It was Green Triangle, in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, who came with a strong surge passing the furlong pole to grab a narrow lead.

Ronan Whelan’s mount, sent to post an 11/1 shot, stuck on gamely in the closing stages to hold And So To Bed by a head after a good tussle.

“It was a great result. It’s great prize-money and we obviously always try and target these races,” said O’Brien. “I’m particularly happy for Ronan because he got injured off my filly in the Curragh, he got a cut on the back of his head, and today is his first day back riding.

“I said to Ronan to get a positive start and give him a chance because we had been sending him to the front. He probably enjoyed that, with first-time blinkers, and he got all the money.

“It was a good race. And So To Bed bounced right back to form. This fella is a talented horse but a tricky customer. He will probably turn up in a nice three-year-old handicap somewhere.”

Time for Tea

Dylan Browne McMonagle had been in the saddle when O’Brien also struck in the opener with Dancing Teapot. The Camelot filly led early in the straight in the mile contest and the 11/8 favourite was always doing enough late on to hold debutante In My Teens.

“She did well to get across from the draw (in 14),” said O’Brien.

“She’s a very good worker, and she obviously has a very good pedigree. She’s a winner now and hopefully she can progress. Her full-brother (Dancing Gemini) looks like a miler but she might stay a bit further.”

Lovely performance

Gotomylovely bagged her second success at Gowran Park this season when running out a game winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap.The Fozzy Stack-trained daughter of Camelot had taken her maiden here in mid-April and was also runner-up at the track last month.

She bounced out in front under Joey Sheridan and the 11/2 shot dug deep when joined by Kayhana in the straight, recording a head victory at the line.

“She’s probably better going right-handed and she likes it here,” said Stack. “She was better behaved in the stalls today, she blew the start here the last day.

“Hopefully we’ll get another day somewhere. I’ll probably try and get blacktype somewhere, whether that is achievable or not. That’s the first time those new (white) colours (of MV Magnier) have been used.”

MAESTRO Mark looked a smart prospect when scoring on his debut run in the nine furlong maiden on the card. The John Murphy-trained gelding went to post a 9/1 shot, having been 50/1 in the morning, and showed plenty of ability.

Gary Carroll produced his mount to lead over a furlong out and he soon asserted to beat Game Point by a handy two and a half lengths.

“He gave me a lovely feel. He travelled through the race really easily, I got there sooner than I wanted to but he just picked up so well,” said Carroll. “He was very green when he hit the front and I think there is a lot more to come.”

More to come

Andrew Kinirons is also hoping there is more to come from Casheldale Lass after she left previous form well behind to land the concluding Sonix Entertainment Handicap at odds of 28/1.

Robbie Colgan was prominent throughout on the Raven’s Pass filly and she kicked on over a furlong out to score by five and a half lengths on her handicap debut.

“I’m delighted with that. We know the family well,” said Kinirons. “We stuck cheekpieces on today. She always showed a good bit working but she used to get worked up.

“Paul O’Brien has done a lot of jumping with her recently and it seems to have settled her. I’m delighted for Gary and Sean (Murphy). They are good craic and have been very patient. Hopefully she’ll be a fun filly for them.”

Another filly to shine on the day was the Gerry Keane-trained Beauparc in the preceding QuinnBet Handicap, over a mile and a half.

The daughter of Free Eagle bounced back from a below-par effort when powering clear in the closing stages for a cosy three-length win in the colours of Peter and Mark Gleeson. “When she’s right she’s a nice filly,” said Keane.

“The last day she ran disappointingly. I thought she might be in season but we found nothing wrong. Maybe the track in Sligo just didn’t suit her. The lads would like to go to Galway so that’ll probably be the next stop.”

NICOLA Burns timed things well on Deuteronomy as they landed the first division of the KCLR Apprentice Handicap for the jockey’s father Robbie. The Acclamation gelding had been knocking on the door this year and the 12/1 shot led inside the final furlong for a half-length win over Carrickfinn.

Burns trains the winner for Anthony McLoughlin and said afterwards: “I thought if there was a little horse that deserved his win it was him so I’m delighted he got it today. Shane Foley said to me one day to maybe put a bit of headgear on him so a big thanks to him for guiding me along. It did help, the horse was sharper there today for the visor.”

In the second division of the race Julian Pietropaolo got plenty of praise for his winning ride on Andy Oliver’s Sierra De Gredos. The 11/4 shot led over a furlong from home to beat Cherry Pink by half a length.

“He did it well and Julian gave him a lovely ride,” said Oliver.

“He rode a horse for us recently at Leopardstown. He got the ride spot-on and the race report and subsequent recommendation spot-on. When this race turned up I asked the agent if Julian could ride and the divide came in our favour. We got him and the race went very well.”