NAOMI Lapaglia bounced back to form to claim listed honours in the featured Darley Irish EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park on Wednesday. Ger Lyons looked to have a strong hand in the nine-furlong contest and so it proved as Eleanora Kennedy’s filly landed the spoils from stablemate Madam Celeste.

James Ryan tracked the leaders on the 4/1 shot before driving her into the lead over a furlong from home. The daughter of Awtaad stuck on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters success.

“She overheated the last day,” explained Lyons afterwards. “She ran no race at the Curragh and, when she came back in, she was really distressed.

“She’s a filly we like and she was my pick in the race, as it was on ratings. It’s a good result for Eleanora (Kennedy) and good result for Madame Celeste who came back with a penalty, and I think she ran her race.”

Late brace

Lyons’ Juddmonte-owned representative Continuite was a beaten favourite in the feature, but pilot Colin Keane had a strong finish on the card when landing the last two races. He teamed up with John Murphy in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden as Plaza Athenee justified 11/8 favouritism.

The Sir Percy filly was prominent throughout the nine-furlong contest and led past the two pole, stretching clear late on for a four-length win over Treasure Rose.

“She did that nicely,” assistant trainer George Murphy said. “We were disappointed that she was beaten the last day. Colin said she’s very progressive and has a good attitude, he said she’s going to keep improving.”

Family affair

In the concluding Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle Handicap, Thegooseiscooked came good for the champion jockey’s father Gerry. The 3/1 favourite led over a furlong from home to post a half-length win over Skib Gold.

“She’s been very disappointing overall. We actually broke her as a young horse for John Breslin and she went to Tony Mullins and he thought an awful lot of her,” said Keane senior.

“We got her back and she was working like a 90 horse, but she was only rated 50. I told John to forget about her and he gave her to the man that looks after the farm for him. He ended up putting a syndicate together, I told him he was mad!

“That’s four runs now and she’s been third, second twice and now won. They baffle us sometimes. She’s turned out to be a great fun horse for the lads.”

THERE were famous colours back in the winner’s enclosure when Morehampton opened his account in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden. Johnny Murtagh’s charge was soon in front in the seven-furlong contest and the 3/1 favourite kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters win over Punica Granatum.

The Sea The Moon colt is owned by Scarlett Mullion who inherited the colours of her grandmother Meg Mullion, carried by past stars such as Princess Pati and Ragusa. Mullion is also the granddaughter of another former high-profile owner in Lady Clague.

Winning jockey Ben Coen said after the race: “He was good, he improved from the first day. He jumped, travelled, got a position and picked up well. He did it well at the line.”

Positive ride

Half an hour later, Chicago Fireball also made almost all of the running to land the Castleacre Insurance Handicap over the same trip. Patrick McGettigan was in the plate on Samuel Mencoff’s gelding and the 4/1 shot asserted over a furlong from home to record a three-length win over stablemate Shakazia.

“I jumped good and quick, Johnny said to be positive,” said McGettigan. “I think today he really enjoyed bossing it. He’s been running at some of the better tracks, in a straight line, and he doesn’t seem to enjoy it as much as he does around a bend.”

Fleetfoot earns Ebor option

FLEETFOOT could have a shot at the Ebor at York next Saturday after a convincing success in the McEnery Cup Handicap for Jim Bolger.

The Teofilo gelding swept through to lead two furlongs from home, under Declan McDonogh, and went on to post a length-and-three-quarter success in the mile-and-a-half contest.

Part-owner Freddy Tylicki was on hand to welcome back the 2/1 favourite and he said: “He’s always been a good horse and he’s always shown it to us, but just now he’s in his prime and he’s absolutely blooming out there. It’s great to see.”

Back in business

The familiar orange colours of James McAuley made a return to the winner’s enclosure in the opening mile optional claimer, with Shoot To Kill. Joey Sheridan produced the Denis Hogan-trained gelding to lead over a furlong from home and the 13/2 shot stayed on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths.

McAuley, who gave up training in early 2024 due to the presence of rapeseed fields near his yard, said: “That’s great. We had taken a break and we actually only decided about five or six weeks ago that we’d get a couple for Dundalk.

“It’s great to get him started, we’ll probably get four or five horses and let Denis tip away with them.” The winner was subsequently claimed by Noel Kelly for €12,000.