TWELVE months on from the race that provided him with his first ride in public, fifth year student and promising amateur John Gleeson enjoyed his most notable success to date as Raise You, part-owned by his father and well-known broadcaster Brian Gleeson, bolted up in the Paddy Power Amateur Derby.

Fresh from running a very respectable eighth in a major handicap over a mile at Ascot, the Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old may well have found his true calling as he tackled a mile and a half for the first time.

The 103-rated son of Lope De Vega cruised through this race and put his rivals to the sword in emphatic fashion over the last couple of furlongs to cross the line half a dozen lengths clear of Barbados.

“John gave him a peach of a ride. I don’t think they went overly quick early and the one thing the horse did today was he settled very well, because he can be a bit keen. Now that this horse has won at this trip it opens up a lot more options for him,” remarked the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell.

Cruised

It looked as though Joseph O’Brien could be set to bring up a ‘Derby’ double as Lunar Display cruised to the front early in the straight in the inaugural Horseware Student Derby.

However, the odds-on favourite came unstuck over the course of the furlong as she had no answer to the tenacious Sean Says (16/1) who answered Sarah Verling’s promptings to forge clear in the closing stages.

The Rodger Sweeney-owned and -trainer winner was crediting her jockey with the first success of her career as she successfully represented the Munster Technological University in this well-subscribed initiative which was confined to riders currently attending a third level institution. The winning jockey is a daughter of Pat Verling who landed the 2003 Galway Hurdle on Sabadilla.

It was also a day to savour for Leixlip-born apprentice Neil Ryan (19) who rode the first winner of his career as he worked the oracle on Crassus in the Paddy Power-sponsored 45-70 rated handicap over 10-furlong.

Noel Meade’s charge lined up as a somewhat frustrating 15-race maiden on the flat but Ryan amply advertised his talents as he conjured the best out of this 13/2 chance who arrived late to edge out the longshot Na Caith Tobac.

Twomey’s strong season continues

A MEMORABLE season for Paddy Twomey yielded yet further cheer as Dissociate recaptured her initial promise in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.

A 24-strong field lined up for a race restricted to fillies who hadn’t run more than twice and this Martin Schwartz-owned daughter of Almanzor rewarded the patience of her connections in waiting for this race.

After taking second in a Guineas weekend maiden, Dissociate ran down the field at Leopardstown a few weeks later but she was restored to peak form here. The 9/2 shot cruised through the race for Billy Lee, went to the front over two furlongs from home and stayed on powerfully to defeat Joan Of Arc’s sister, Toy, by three and a half lengths.

Trainer error

“She had a good first run and it was trainer error running her back at Leopardstown. She likes this ground and I think she will progress well as a three-year-old and I’d imagine she could start off in a Guineas Trial,” stated the trainer.

Billy Lee went on to add to his haul when Tip Of The Spear (7/1) took the Paddy Power-sponsored nine-furlong maiden for three-year-olds and upwards.

In the colours of his breeder Ben Browne and trained by Andrew Kinirons, this gelding appeared to enjoy this easy surface and he finished out his race in determined style over the last furlong to account for the favourite Tall Story with the front pair finishing eight lengths clear of the pack.

“He had been working well going to Punchestown (finished seventh on his debut) and we were probably a bit disappointed with that run but he’s done that nicely today,” reported Kinirons.

“I’d love to keep him but I’m sure there will be a bit of interest in him after today.”

Meanwhile, the father and son team of Andy Slattery senior and junior took the Paddy Power-sponsored mile nursery with the 63-rated bottom-weight Sir Allen (11/2).

In the colours of the trainer’s stalwart patrons the Eight Star Syndicate, this son of Territories picked up well over the last furlong to nail the market leader Cyclamen deep inside the last furlong.

The winner was making just the fifth appearance of his career.

Callaghan ending on a high

A FEATURE of the second half of the season has been the form of Michael O’Callaghan’s juvenile string, and the trainer bagged yet another victory when Belle Fourche claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs.

A 12th individual two-year-old scorer in 2021 for O’Callaghan which helped the trainer equal his previous best tally of 17 domestic winners for the season, this daughter of Brazen Beau was taking a big step forward from her debut ninth behind Heart To Heart in a Navan maiden several weeks ago.

Evidently a much improved effort was expected as Leigh Roche’s mount was backed from 66/1 into 14/1 over the course of the day and she showed a very likeable attitude when it mattered most.

She always looked to be doing enough to hold off the odds-on New York City who went down by a neck. The winner is owned by Paul Callan, Brendan Finnegan and Francis Finnegan.

Curraheen Princess has ended her season with quite a flourish and Des Donovan’s charge made it three wins from her last four starts in the Paddy Power-sponsored five-furlong handicap.

The 12/1 shot showed a tremendous will to win over the last furlong as she answered Joe Doyle’s every call to edge out Seven Worlds in a bobbing finish, just when it seemed the latter was sure to prevail.

The Tom Egan-owned winner will return to action early next season.