THE best was left to last at Leopardstown on Thursday as former Cheltenham bumper winner A Dream To Share opened his account on the flat in fine style.

J.P. McManus’s gelding was heavily supported in the amateur maiden, going to post a 1/2 shot having been as big as 7/4 in the morning.

John Gleeson, who had partnered the Muhaarar gelding to the Grade 1 bumper double in the spring of 2023, was back on board and stalked the leaders early in the mile-and-seven event.

His mount showed a smart turn of foot to lead passing the furlong pole and the John and Thomas Kiely-trained gelding soon asserted for a cosy length and a half success over fast finishing Royal Hollow.

The owner’s racing manager Frank Berry said afterwards: “That was lovely. They didn’t go quick and then they quickened up. He couldn’t have done it any better. We might go back over hurdles with him, we’ll see with the ground.

“He’s after having two nice runs over shorter on very soft ground. That ground was as quick as you’d want it and hopefully he’ll be fine after it. We couldn’t be happier.”

Happy ending

The other maiden on the card, the preceding mile and a half event, had a dramatic finish with the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Happy Pharoah getting on top late on. Red King made a bold bid from the front and looked to have his rivals on the stretch early in the straight.

Paddy Harnett got a good tune from his mount inside the final furlong as he lunged late to secure a half-length win on the 9/1 shot. Newcomer Defiantly flew home, a neck back in third.

Harnett said: “The race went according to plan. I got a nice tow into the race from Andy Oliver’s horse and he really took off in the last furlong.

“He’s a huge horse, he’s by American Pharoah so has an unbelievable pedigree. Frank (Lynch), the owner, is a very nice man so I’m delighted to ride a winner for him.”

River routs rivals

Mississippi River proved much too strong for his rivals in the BoyleSports Smart Racecard Rated Race as he sprinted clear turning for home in the mile contest.

Jack Cleary was to the fore throughout on the Aidan O’Brien-trained 11/8 favourite and he just needed to keep him going late on to secure an easy four-and-a-quarter-length win. Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He got beaten last time in Naas and we put the blinkers on him which helped him focus a bit more. Jack gave him a lovely ride, he made every post the winner and he really stretched away in the straight.

“He’s in two handicaps at the Curragh next weekend and it might be worth having a crack at the Meld Stakes here in the middle of July. Aidan thought he had stakes potential at the start of the year and he’s starting to show it now.”

DECLAN McDonogh bagged the opening two races on the card with two narrow successes. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Dial Me In lunged late in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Race to make a winning ‘debut’.

The Awtaad colt had the benefit of a barrier trial but missed the kick slightly in the seven-furlong contest. He finished off strongly up the rail to nail Sound Bite at the line for a head victory.

Stable representative Michael Halford said: “It didn’t really go to plan early on. He was very slow out and Declan just had to be patient on him.

“The gaps opened and he showed a great attitude and just got there in time at the line.”

Annie follows up

The verdict was also a head in the following Bulmers Live Handicap with Finsceal Annie holding Harry The Rogue late on to secure a follow-up win at the track. Ciaran Murphy’s charge led over a furlong from home and was always doing enough to justify 11/4 favouritism.

“She’s versatile. She had a lovely draw in one, we went hard and I was able to get out off the fence and fill her on the way round,” said McDonogh.

“She doesn’t do a whole lot when she gets there but she’s still quite genuine and did enough. Hopefully she can win again, they (Legends Galore Syndicate) are on about Galway. She has a bit of gate speed which helps around there.”

RONAN Whelan also bagged a brace on the card, taking both divisions of the Jerry Fish Handicap over nine furlongs. Elusive Duke was a well-backed 4/1 favourite in the first heat and came with a strong surge to lead in the closing stages for a half-length win over Flier.

“He was second first time out in Cork over six as a two-year-old and Wayne Lordan has always said that he needs to go further,” said trainer Kevin Coleman afterwards.

“Even the last day he said to step him up again. Wayne rides him most of the time but unfortunately he couldn’t today as he’s in Royal Ascot and Ronan did a marvellous job.

“Tom (Westropp Bennett) is here with his family and he had a winner at Kilbeggan the other night (Gaelic Arc) with John Ryan. It’s good that they are here.”

Cosy win

In the second division Noble Andy was another to come good, for trainer Mark Fahey. The 6/1 shot was held up before coming to lead inside the final furlong for a cosy two-and-a-quarter-length win over Star Mind.

“He’s a four-year-old and we didn’t think it would take him this long to win but that probably is his level,” said Fahey, who trains the Tough As Nails gelding for Jeffrey Brennan.

“Ronan gave him a great ride and the horses at home are in great form. I’ve got brilliant lads at home helping me out every day.”

Galway bound

Galway is on the agenda for Faoladh after his victory in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Handicap. The Andy Slattery-trained gelding led approaching the straight, under the trainer’s son and namesake, and kept on well in the closing stages to hold Everylittlestep by half a length.

The 7/2 winner Faoladh had been narrowly denied on his last visit to the track and the trainer said: “He deserved it. The lads (Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate) bought him off me at Christmas.

“They had a couple of good horses with me. They had An Saighdiur and Sunset Nova, who has retired. This horse could go for the mile three-year-old handicap in Galway.”