THE Joseph O’Brien-trained Princess Child stepped up in grade to land a dramatic renewal of the Group 3 Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Stakes (Fillies & Mares) at Tipperary last Sunday.

Sent off 3/1 under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Janine Byrne-owned filly produced her now customary late burst to beat Queen Of Thunder a short head.

Afterwards, O’Brien said: “If any horse ever deserved to win a stakes race it was her, although you don’t always get what you deserve. We had been campaigning her aggressively and, while she built a load of blacktype, to win a group race is great.

“I’d say it will be a career-best on the figures and I thought she won the hard way.” Declan McDonogh, who came wide into the straight on leader Mataariki, in the process badly hampering a quartet of rivals, including the favourite Fingerpaint who ran on for third place, later received a seven-day ban for careless riding.

Listed win

Grand Marques (8/1) made virtually all under Seamie Heffernan to land the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes. Strongly pressed by Erosandpsyche over a furlong out, the three-year-old stayed on well to score by half a length.

Trainer Fozzy Stack said: “She had the right draw today and was able to get to the stands’ side rail, which was a big help. Nothing really bothered her in front and he (Heffernan) was able to sit until a furlong and a half down.

“If they all did what she did, a listed winner and Group 3-placed, we’d be alright and today’s race was a win-and-you’re-in for the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes. The Begleys (owners) have been good supporters of ours and we go back years.”

Strong double for Marnanes

LOCAL trainer David Marnane sent out a double on the card.

Redemption Road initiated the brace when staying on strongly under Luke McAteer to win the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden. Prominent throughout, the 25/1 chance came through to lead over a furlong out, keeping on well to win by half a length for owners MRC International.

Marnane said: “He had a lovely run the last day but met all sorts of trouble. He is a typical one of ours as he keeps getting better and is actually quite a nice horse.

“He is growing up with every run and is growing up at home as well. I don’t know what we do from here but he is one for stepping up in trip, although maybe not just yet.

“He is a lovely looking horse and Amy (Marnane, niece) picked him out at Goffs last year and his stallion is doing well.”

Favourite

Jasmine Affanalis brought up the brace when justifying 3/1 favourite in the Breens Farm Machinery Apprentice Handicap. Tracking the pace under Darragh O’Sullivan, the market leader came through to lead over a furlong out, keeping on strongly inside the final furlong to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

Marnane said: “The boys (Gormley family, owners) bred her and her half-brother Gavoo, who also won this year for them, so it is another good result.

“She will be out of that 0-60 bracket now but hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on her. They are very good owners and we will pick our spots with both horses next.”

The Raymond Hurley-trained El Bello stayed on strongly under Nicola Burns to win the concluding Home & Agri Energy Handicap. Burns coaxed the 33/1 chance into fifth entering the straight, coming through to lead at the furlong pole.

Finding plenty when challenged by Lady Kai close home, the Pura Vida Partnership-owned gelding held on to win by a neck. Hurley, training his first winner since 2013 said: “I didn’t have my license for a good few years, but always had the odd point-to-pointer. I got Tom (Foley, part-owner), who worked for me when I was in Lisselan Farms, and Don Kingston together so decided to renew my Flat license recently and they gave me a couple of horses.

“El Bello had been unlucky in-running in Sligo and, to be honest, I was hoping he’d be bang there as he was up in distance today. Nicola gave him a super ride. I farm as well, so I’m not short of work but would like to build up a few horses to run, preferably over jumps. I’m enjoying being back in it and there were great days with Imperial Call and Whysomayo.”

Endorsement has Group 1 targets

AIDAN O’Brien also sent out two winners on the afternoon. Endorsement landed the opening Camas Park Irish EBF Maiden under Wayne Lordan.

Sent off evens-favourite, the Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Westerberg-owned colt came through to lead at the furlong pole, keeping on well inside the final 100 yards to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “It looked to be a lovely maiden and some of them were coming in with good runs previously. Wayne said he had a messy trip the whole way, as he was wide. In fairness, once he got him straightened up and balanced, his last furlong was his best.

“He will now go into all those nice staying races towards the back-end, although the Beresford might come too soon. He is still babyish, so will come on mentally and physically and could run next in the Zetland Stakes, and maybe then on to the Group 1s in France. He will be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year.”

River rules

O’Brien and Lordan completed a double as Mississippi River justified favouritism in the Glenvale Stud Race. Sent off 6/4 favourite, the Lope De Vega colt led or disputed with Bravais from the outset.

Nothing separated the pair entering the home straight and, even at the furlong pole, the two couldn’t be split. It was only inside the last 50 yards that the Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Peter M Brant-owned colt edged on to win by a head.

Armstrong said: “Wayne gave him another lovely ride and, in fairness to the horse, he has been fierce consistent. He always runs to a nice mark and seven (furlongs) is a lovely trip for him. He is in a handicap at Leopardstown (Sovereign Path Handicap, Champions Weekend), where he would carry a winners’ penalty. He has good form around Leopardstown and it is a good pot. He could also try stakes company over seven to a mile.”