CHABLIS Rock completed a cross-card four-timer for Joseph O’Brien and brought up a double for Declan McDonogh, as she justified 4/9 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.

A runner-up on her return at the Curragh and fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time in this near mile-and-a-half contest, the Michael O’Flynn-owned bay raced in second before improving to lead on the approach to the straight.

Extending her advantage when ridden with over a furlong to go, the Irish Oaks entrant ultimately eased to a four-and-a-half-length win.

“She handled the ground well and, while she is by Sioux Nation, she stays well,” Kevin Blake, representing O’Brien, commented. “She is a big, slow-strider and Decky kept it simple and she won well.”

Electric performance

O’Brien and McDonogh had earlier claimed the opening divide of the Mr Binman Handicap with Electric Night (16/5). On what was her turf debut, the Philip Antonacci-owned bay raced in mid-division, making good headway when switched to the outer early in the straight.

Sweeping to the front with a furlong to go, she quickly settled matters and came home three and a quarter lengths clear of fellow three-year-old Nicky Larson.

“The switch to the grass was a big help and the easy ground wasn’t a concern, as the feeling was that she mightn’t have been loving Dundalk,” Blake revealed. “She won very well and it was probably a fair effort against older horses. Hopefully she can progress.”

Successful Signora

Matching his son’s Navan double, Aidan O’Brien was also on the mark at Greenmount Park, taking the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with Signora (8/13 favourite).

Ninth when sent off favourite for the Albany at Royal Ascot last summer, the Frankel bay made all in this seven-furlong heat and eased to a four-and-a-quarter-length win for owners Michael Tabor, Derick Smith and Sue Magnier.

“It took a while to get her head in front, but it was very straightforward today and she is a nice filly going forward,” winning rider Jack Cleary reflected. “She is versatile ground-wise and I think that seven furlongs is her trip.”

NOT seen since finishing fourth on debut at Fairyhouse in June of 2023, Queen Lioness defied an absence to take the Anglo Printers Maiden.

Previously in the care of Johnny Murtagh and now with Mark Fahey, the chesnut six-year-old broke smartly under Paddy Harnett and soon raced in second.

Coming with her challenge early in the straight, the 50/1 chance was ridden to the front with over a furlong to go and comfortably held off the effort of Treasure Rose by a length.

“I’m delighted for her owners, the Purcells (of the P G C Syndicate). The lads picked her up to go breeding, but decided to give her another crack at racing,” Fahey explained. “It probably wasn’t the strongest of maidens, so we might now have a nice handicap mark.”

Bouncing back

Down to a career low mark of 44 and with Nicola Burns aboard for the first time, Patrick Street (10/1) bounced back to form in the concluding Limerick Motor Centre Handicap.

A beaten favourite when last seen at Gowran and racing towards rear here, the Paul Mulligan-owned bay made progress from early in the straight, but was soon short of room.

Ridden from the furlong pole and finishing with a flourish, he got to the front inside the final 50 yards and was three-quarters of a length clear on crossing the line.

“He is a gent of a horse and recently came down to a competitive mark,” winning trainer Andrew Kinirons remarked. “His work had been way better than his runs. He is handicapped over hurdles too so he will be a fun horse for the summer.”

Making amends

Damien Moore’s God Of Power also failed to justify favouritism when last seen at Dundalk, but made amends in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Trained by Andy Slattery and ridden by his son Andrew, the 9/4 chance disputed the lead when pushed along from the two-furlong pole.

Ridden and gaining an outright advantage with over a furlong to go, he had enough in reserve to hold off the late effort of Dark Leader by three-quarters of a length.

“Hopefully, he’ll get a nice mark now and will go for a three-year-old handicap at the Curragh on Guineas Weekend. I’d like to think he could be a Britannia horse,” the winning trainer revealed.

ON what was his first start for Natalia Lupini, Hellorhighwater (6/1) completed a 160/1 double for Leigh Roche in the Lorraine O’Mara Birthday Remembrance Handicap.

Previously in the care of Gavin Cromwell and racing off an initial mark of 85, the Sergei Prokofiev four-year-old made progress on the outer from early in the straight.

Ridden in fourth with less than 200 yards to go, Thehell Partnership-owned bay ultimately kept on best close home, getting up in the final strides to beat Spanish Temptress by a nose.

“We put together the partnership and bought this horse privately from Eoin McDonagh of Shanaville Stables, after he won at Cork (last September). We do a lot of business with Eoin and he is very good to advise on his horses,” Lupini explained.

“He is a Premier Handicap prospect now.”

Surprise success

Roche had earlier guided Ray Cody’s Monvoe to a surprise 22/1 success in the second divide of the Mr Binman Handicap. Drifting from early shows of 8/1, the son of Zoustar got a dream run through on the inner approaching the straight and was pushed along to lead with a furlong and a half to go.

Finding generously for pressure in the closing stages, he ultimately came home a length and a half to the good for owner Claire O’Donovan.

“If my horses were in better form, I’d have fancied him more,” Cody reflected. “I’m delighted with him, as that’s the first time he has raced properly. Last year, he was very immature, thought he was quicker than he was and wasn’t doing things right.”