ONE of 11 riders to make the approximate hour and a half journey south from the Curragh, Dylan Browne McMonagle completed a near 1,755/1 cross-card five-timer on Tounsivator (1/1 favourite) in the Perennial Freight Handicap.
Owned by the Temple Bloodstock Tounsivator Syndicate and a Grade 2 winner over flights, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old raced mainly in fourth as Ina Mina set a strong pace from the outset.
Big galloper
Taking closer order half a mile from home, the chesnut victor soon went second and swept to the front when ridden with over a furlong to go, keeping on well from there to hold off the late effort of Oriole by three-quarters of a length.
Leigh Roche was aboard the never-nearer runner-up and was later handed a five-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency.
“He does nothing quick, but he is a big galloper and he was always going to outstay them when they went that gallop,” Browne McMonagle, who won four races at the Curragh, reflected.
Successful travels
Nicola Burns was another successful at both meetings, with the talented young apprentice guiding Ledecky to a comfortable win in the opening Assembly Tech Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Fifth on debut at Galway, the Paddy Twomey-trained Wootton Bassett bay was widely expected to deliver in this mile-and-a-half contest and was returned the clear market leader at 2/5.
Paul Byrne’s €72,000 Goffs Orby Sale purchase made virtually all and, while edging to her left when pushed along with over a furlong to go, she ultimately eased to a four-and-a-half length win.
“She is a tough little filly and I have to thank Paddy for giving me the spin on her. It’s my first winner for him,” Burns, who won on Sir Alfie at the Curragh, remarked.
Perseverance
Burns was down the field on Randall Poets Lass in the concluding Dan Cowman Memorial Handicap, with Ballycommon Chapel making the breakthrough on her 35th start in this two-mile heat.
Owned and trained by Dick Donohoe, the 14/1 chance (from 25s) tracked the leaders under Paddy McGettigan and, while pushed along with half a mile to go, she soon improved into a close second.
Making further progress to lead two furlongs out, the 37-rated bay soon skipped a few lengths clear and kept up the gallop when ridden in the closing stages, holding off the running on Takarengo by a length.
“Sometimes you can’t beat a bit of perseverance, but you have to have some bit of madness in you to do it!” Donohoe quipped.
“It was her first run back on the level for a long time and I always knew there was a race of some description in her, be it on the flat or hurdles.”
IN the colours of Charobana Ltd, Stepdance continued her upward trajectory in the Strand Inn Dunmore East Handicap. Making the breakthrough over the course and distance last month, the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old quickly followed up at Limerick.
Widely expected to complete the hat-trick in this mile and a half contest, the 58-rated chesnut was returned the clear favourite at 6/4.
Never far from the pace under Wayne Hassett, who was also in action at the Curragh, the progressive daughter of Footstepsinthesand improved to lead a furlong and a half from home.
While soon pressed on her outer, she kept finding for pressure in the closing stages, holding off the effort of Gotta Catch’em All by three-quarters of a length.
“When the horses came from behind me, she spotted them and stayed at it. She’s tough and I’d say she is only getting better,” Hassett enthused.
King takes the crown
Kingstonian was another to justify favouritism, with this 11/10 chance (from 2s early) proving too good for his seven rivals in the Griffin Auctioneers Maiden.
Owned and bred by Kirsten Rausing, the 79-rated bay raced mainly in second under Keithen Kennedy, taking over from the front-running So Golden with less than two furlongs to go.
Soon ridden, the Study Of Man three-year-old found plenty in the closing stages and was three-lengths clear of Dream On Baby upon crossing the line.
“He had good form and that was very straightforward for him today,” winning trainer Jessica Harrington reported. “He’ll go up in trip now and it’s great to get that maiden out of the way.”
COMBINING with The Truant, Paul Flynn and Leigh Roche claimed the feature Brennan’s Pharmacy Handicap for the second year in a row, with the latter completing a 168/1 double on this eight-year-old grey.
Taking closer order in third half a mile from home, the easy-to-back 25/1 chance (from 14s) was ridden to challenge in second with over a furlong to go, but soon appeared to be coming off second best.
However, he ultimately outstayed the 10/11 favourite Shoda and hit the front inside the final 100 yards, powering to a two and three-quarters of a length win for the Thirteen Apostles Racing Syndicate.
“He is genuine, he jumped and travelled well. I knew he was going to stay,” Roche divulged. “Dylan (Browne McMonagle on Shoda) was probably going better than me and, from two furlongs down, I thought he was going to pick up and go away, but I think my lad just outstayed him.”
Chica the champion
The Tuam native was earlier successful on Chica Guerrera (11/2) in the Morris DIY Rated Race, much to the delight of the locally-based Trouble & Strife Syndicate.
Making good progress on the outer with half a mile to go and soon improving to lead, the Mark Fahey-trained victor increased her advantage with over two furlongs to go.
Soon ridden, she kept up the gallop all the way to the line and finished two and a quarter lengths clear of Enziya (9/4 favourite), with that one a never-nearer second after coming from off the pace.
“It’s the owners’ local track and this is going to be like Cheltenham for them,” Fahey reflected.
“Things just didn’t go right for her at Galway and we were disappointed, but she showed today that she’s half decent.”