GER Lyons was left ‘gobsmacked’ after Howd’yadoit (13/2) claimed the feature Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes (Median Auction Race) of €200,000.
Completing a treble for Colin Keane, the 87-rated bay tracked the leaders and was ridden to challenge between horses with over a furlong to go. Surging to the front inside the final 100 yards, he ultimately came home three-quarters of a length to the good in the colours of Sean Jones, a long-time ally of the winning handler.
There was just a nose between Unbreakable Duke and Summer Is Tomorrow in second and third respectively, with their positions later reversed after interference was deemed to have occurred. Killian Leonard, who was on the former, subsequently picked up a four-day careless riding ban.
“I’m gobsmacked as I didn’t think he’d be good enough,” Lyons remarked. “We came here because it was a good pot, and I said any bit of the prize money is grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he’d win.
“Sean has been with me from day one and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
No need to fear
Thirty-minutes earlier, Keane had guided Eleanora Kennedy’s Noli Timere to a convincing win in the LubriSyn HA Premium Equine Joint Protection Fillies Maiden.
Well-supported from 5s into 11/4 favouritism, the Michael O’Callaghan-trained chesnut soon tracked the leaders and, while briefly short of room early in the straight, she got the desired gap from the two-furlong pole.
In first-time cheekpieces, she was ridden to the front with a furlong to go and kept on well from there to score by three lengths.
“She’s a lovely filly and we’ll probably go hunting for a little bit of blacktype now,” O’Callaghan disclosed.
Bonus goes one better
Keane initiated his three-timer on Bonus Time, with this Paddy Twomey-trained bay justifying 2/5 favouritism in the opening Ironxcell For Energy Race.
Making all on her second start for Twomey and Bond Thoroughbred Limited, she was pushed along from the two-furlong pole but always appeared to have the measure of her rivals. Kodilicious came home well in first-time blinkers and reduced the deficit close home, but was still half a length adrift at the line.
“Her last run was her first for us, and we tried seven (furlongs) in a handicap,” Twomey reflected. “It was her first time in a handicap carrying 10 stone and I just thought the last 50 yards looked a long way, so we said we’d come back to six today and I’m very happy how she did it.”
WITH Leigh Roche aboard for the first time, Mint Man (8/1) made all and came home a length and a half to the good in the Taste Of Kildare At Naas Racecourse 16th-17th August Handicap.
Racing in the centre of the track, the Real Horse Degen Club-owned four-year-old was ridden with over a furlong to go and, while soon edging towards the nearside rail, he kept up the gallop all the way to the line.
“He was in good form and is not a massive horse, so carrying less weight today helped him,” winning trainer Pat Murphy explained. “We’ll see what comes up for him and he could run in the Curragh on Saturday.”
Ob La Di on song
Johnny Murtagh’s Ob La Di was another to dominate from the front, with this 10/1 chance carrying the Galway Plate-winning silks of Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Limited in the concluding Naas Racecourse Handicap.
Skipping a few lengths clear from early in the straight under Ben Coen, she was pushed along with over two furlongs to go and kept finding for pressure, ultimately coming home two and three-quarters of a length to the good.
“I think a mile and five [furlongs] last time was a bit too far for her. She travelled well into the straight and didn’t get home,” Murtagh reflected. “Ben thought a mile-and-a-quarter around here would suit and to let her use that good stride she has. She got it nice and easy in front and quickened up well in the straight.”
NICOLA Burns once again showcased her talents on Star Mind (11/2f) in the second division of the Curragh To Curragh Cycle On 30th August Handicap.
After a slow start, the gifted apprentice was content to settle her mount in rear and remained at the tail of the field on entering the straight. Soon switched to the outer, the Ger O’Leary-trained four-year-old came home with a wet sail from the furlong pole, getting up in the final strides to prevail by half a length.
“Nicola said she missed the start, which probably suited her. She loved the ease in the ground and came home best of all,” O’Leary said of the Lance Bloodstock Limited-owned bay.
Money well spent
Starting off for Adrian Sexton, the easy-to-back Spent All Me Money (25/1 from 10s) took the first divide of this seven-furlong heat. Formerly trained by Jack Davison and successful at Roscommon in May, the Vincent Kelly-owned three-year-old was given a patient ride by Shane Foley.
Kept to the inner on the turn for home, he made progress with over two-furlongs to go and continued to work his way through the field when ridden. Getting to the front inside the final 150 yards, the 72-rated bay was all out to hold off Touted Plan, with just a nose between them at the line.
Annie repays patience
Making the breakthrough on her 13th start, the Trevor Dalzell-owned Annie Lavinia (5/1) led home 17 rivals in the Join Us For Hurling For Cancer Research Supported By Centra On 18th August Apprentice Handicap.
Settled in mid-division by Sorcha Woods, the Eddie Lynam-trained four-year-old took closer order from the two-furlong pole and shot to the front inside the final 200 yards, keeping on well from there to score by three-quarters of a length.
“I didn’t think it would take her this long to win a race,” Lynam disclosed. “Sorcha gets a good tune out of her and I said we’d come back here, even though Sligo (declared on Wednesday) looks an easier contest.
“We’ll see how she is, but I wouldn’t think she’ll go to Sligo. She doesn’t back up usually.”