THE Joseph O’Brien juggernaut rolled into Naas on Sunday and Jamie Powell hitched a ride as he struck on Snapretend in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes, over a mile and a half, with the 25/1 outsider leading home a 1-2 for the trainer.

Stakes-placed three times earlier in the year, John Farrell’s homebred was prominent throughout and kept pulling out more to hold staying-on market leader Beset by half a length.

“I’m getting good chances and riding good horses,” said Powell (two-day ban for excessive use of the ProCush), who was riding his second listed winner of the weekend.

“I rode a couple of bits of work for Joseph when he brought horses to the Curragh. I’m based with Johnny Murtagh and Michael O’Callaghan, it was nice to get the spare ride.

“She’s very genuine and loves the slow ground, and I think she’ll be better going the opposite direction.”

Princess takes the crown

O’Brien had earlier landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes with Princess Child (10/3), who got up on the line to touch off market leader Faiyum by a short head.

Janine Byrne’s Dariyan mare had won Tipperary’s Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes last season.

“After her last run in the Curragh over seven, I thought the step up to a mile was going to suit her,” said rider Joey Sheridan.

“She’s extremely tough and honest and has a lovely attitude. I’m delighted for Janine, it’s great for her. She loves her horses.”

Professional performance

Formous (3/1 joint-favourite) had initiated a treble for O’Brien, and a double for Sheridan, when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs. The 13 runners split into two groups, with the majority heading over to the far side, but Sheridan went up the stands’ side rail from stall 13 and the grey daughter of Starman, owned by Eleanora Kennedy and Ronan Hurley, scored by two and a quarter lengths from Ita Florence.

“I was half toying with going over,” admitted the winning rider.

“Joseph made it simple for me, he just said ‘don’t do anything wild, you’re just going to have to follow what you can’. She was very professional and really likes that soft ground.”

FOR the third time in five years, Jessica Harrington saddled the winner of the Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final as Diamonds And Dames (13/2) bolted up under Shane Foley.

The Churchill filly, owned by the It’s All About The Girls Syndicate, had won a maiden over course and distance in September and got a clear run up the far rail to easily beat Banks Of The Boyne by six lengths.

“Shane was a little bit worried about the tacky surface, but luckily she was drawn one and got on the new bit of ground,” said Harrington.

“She got seven furlongs there and we might look at some sort of classic trial in the spring. The syndicate has been going for 10 years now. They had a lunch before racing, and a lot of them are here today.”

Abbotsford enjoys trip

Lightly-raced three-year-old Abbotsford (14/1) won the Colm White Bookmaker Beggar’s End Handicap over two miles.

The Juddmonte-bred son of Frankel raced close to the pace under Colin Keane and was ridden to lead a furlong out to beat Madbadanddangerous by two lengths.

“He got beat half a length in Bellewstown, but the race had two horses in it rated 96 and 98. That’s the reason there were only three horses in it.

“Joseph’s horse (Magnum Cor) beat me half a length, and I think he’s a very good horse. That sharp mile and a half around Bellewstown was just a little bit tight for him, and the extra distance played into his hands today.”

SENT off 2/9 to beat six rivals in the Tifrums Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs, Bengal Tiger made all the running up the far rail for Ryan Moore to slam One Flash by 12 lengths.

“He’s a lovely-natured horse and Ryan really liked him,” said Aidan O’Brien of the Coolmore-owned son of No Nay Never. “I think he’ll go to seven anyway and might get a mile next year.”

Close finish

Trained in Rhode, Co Offaly by John Harney, Pure Granite (11/2) took the TRM Calphormin - Strong Foundation, Strong Future Apprentice Handicap over one mile, three furlongs.

Jimmy Dalton’s mount got a clear passage up the inner in the straight and headed Love Orchid inside the final furlong to score by three-parts of a length.

“He’s a horse that we’ve always liked,” said Harney of the family-owned Cotai Glory gelding. “He had a few problems last year as a three-year-old, but we got them sorted.

“We had to hold him for the summer because of the quick ground. He’s a big horse, nearly 16.3hh, and will probably jump a hurdle as well.”

Improvement to come

Ben Coen made plenty of use of Vanir (4/1 joint-favourite) to take the SIS, Supporting Irish Racing Fillies Handicap.

Newtown Anner Stud’s home-bred daughter of Teofilo led after half a mile and stayed on well to defeat Speckled Meadow by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I didn’t have any fear of bringing her back to a mile and a quarter, especially with the soft ground,” said winning trainer Johnny Murtagh.

“Like most of Maurice’s horses, she should only get better with a bit of time. Hopefully, we’ll get to keep her for next year, I think she’ll be a nice four-year-old.”