CLASSY last year in his three-year-old campaign, Radanpour (9/4) got back on the winning trail in the Byrne Marquees Hilltown Race at Bellewstown.
In the Aga Khan silks Pat Smullen gave Dermot Weld’s winner a determined drive. From the front Radanpour had to extend himself on the run for home, earlier than the sweet-travelling Ballydoyle odds-on favourite Romanesque (8/13). The latter got on terms and had every chance in the straight, but the 2015 Irish Derby ‘also ran’ pulled out enough to triumph by a neck.
“He’s a lovely genuine horse and tries very hard,” commented Smullen.
“The ground was ideal for him today. He’s a horse that has probably not been right all year until now. An ease in the ground is vital to him. The Irish Derby left its toll on him but he’s back right now.”
Half-an-hour later the Aga Khan, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen were fancied to double-up with 7/4 market-leader, Tarazani, in the featured Drogheda Traders Plate Handicap. However, he could manage only fourth place as the spoils went the way of the Francois Vincent Fabre-owned, and John Oxx-trained all-the-way scorer, Xebec (3/1). Declan McDonogh did the steering on the American-bred grey, and he held on well by three parts of a length from Hint Of Frost.
In the aftermath successful trainer John Oxx said: “We’ll have to find something for him to do next Wednesday as he has run the last three and is getting better!
“He handles anything from yielding to soft to good to firm and is a very sound horse. He’s as heavy as he’s ever been and takes his racing well. He’ll be in the Autumn Sales at Newmarket at the end of the year.
“The owner has just one mare and has a sibling to him in training in the US. He’s a lovely owner and a lovely man.”
KELLY RETURNS
Shane Kelly, the 3lb claiming apprentice that served a reduced ban after traces of cocaine were found in a sample taken at Leopardstown last August, returned to the number one spot for the first time since taking up race-riding again last month.
Fittingly, the win was for his boss, Michael O’Callaghan, on the homebred I Will Excel (5/2 into 7/4) in the Collierstown Maiden. The ‘jolly’ here, Accalia, didn’t help her cause by jumping the road inside the final furlong, and she eventually lost out by half a length to I Will Excel.
“It was a bit of surprise but he was due it anyway (getting off the mark at the 22nd attempt),” reasoned Kelly.
“Hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence and he can go on and win again. He has the ability.”
Catwilldo (9/2) won her second race over five furlongs at Bellewstown when holding on by a nose under top-weight in the Holcroft Motors No. 1 For Peugeot Hill Sprint Handicap. A six-time winner overall, the Killian Leonard-ridden Catwilldo edged out Suburban Sky for the Catshipper Partnership (which includes Bellewstown director Simon Mulvany) and handler Garvan Donnelly.
“He had a little operation since his day out at Navan (on debut at the end of May) as he was more interested in the fillies around him then than anything else,” said Chris Hayes after guiding Catch A Wave to a 25/1 win in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden (Plus 10 Race).
“He probably needed the run the last day (at Killarney six days earlier) and when his chance had gone I eased up on him as he gave a big blow,” added Hayes.
Catch A Wave, owned by the On Target Too Syndicate, and trained by Kevin Prendergast, soon dictated the pace and then held Ontheiflist by half a length.
PREDICTABLE OUTCOME
There was an altogether more predictable outcome 30 minutes later, when the Premier Racing Club’s My Painter (well-backed 5/4 favourite) did the business under Seamie Heffernan in the Awards And Gifts Claiming Maiden. Representing the in-form Denis Hogan outfit, My Painter swept home to defeat Matriarch by half a length. After the race, ninth place finisher Master Vega was claimed by Catherine Smyth from Mullingar for €5,000.
Full Shilling (6/1 into 4/1 favourite) for the the Last Shilling Syndicate and Paddy Mooney came out best in a well-contested Eva-Tec Ltd Handicap.
The 7lb claimer Dylan Hogan had to switch Full Shilling into a gap between horses to challenge inside the final quarter-mile. The Intikhab mare led under a furlong out and she asserted in the closing stages for a length and a quarter verdict over Rose Danjou.
“I had no-one to ride at a quarter to twelve yesterday and he rung up so it was worth the phone call for him,” revealed Mooney.
“She’s locally owned in Duleek and I’m delighted she won for them.”
In the concluding Lougher Stables Handicap Royal Roslea popped up at 16/1 on her second start for Kevin and Matthew Smith, triumphing under 7lb claimer Oisin Orr.
The bargain buy, on her first outing since March, held the flying late run of Rolanna by a head.
“It’s always nice to have a winner at your local track,” remarked trainer Matthew Smith. She’s in at the Curragh on Sunday. We’ll see how she comes out of this and she might run.”
Kelly banned for careless riding
SHANE Kelly picked up a one-day careless riding ban for his efforts on the fifth home, Serefeli in the Eva-Tec Ltd Handicap.
ACTING STEWARDS
P. Reynolds, C. Magnier, J.M. Smith, J. Collins, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
PAPAL PARADE (E. O’Connell): Related to winners and can get on the scoresheet herself judged on her effort in first-time cheekpieces when third behind Royal Roslea. Was competing from a pound out of the handicap too.