HENRY de Bromhead switched disciplines to unleash a two-year-old newcomer of some promise in Aerclub in the first division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile.
This Stephen McCarthy-owned son of Charm Spirit may have gone off at 20/1 but he looked the part throughout this race as he travelled well on the heels of the leaders for Wayne Lordan.
The favourite, Assurance, who made her debut in the Moyglare Stakes two months ago, pressed on for home early in the straight but Aerclub and fellow newcomer Duke Of Pilat looked to have her covered as the last furlong loomed. The latter had a spell in the lead but Aerclub got on top to carry the day by half a length.
“He’s a lovely, big horse and Henry told me he liked him quite a bit. He’s very likeable and he handled the surface well and it rode a nice race as we quickened all the way up the straight. He’s got a nice future,” commented Lordan.
Type
There was another nice type on show in Psyche (7/2) who landed the second division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. This son of Lope De Vega, who carries the colours of the Long Wait Partnership, was offering a pointer as to the prowess of the exciting Vatican City who beat him easily in a maiden here last month.
Shane Foley’s mount had work to do to pick up the front-running favourite King Of The Throne and Karbasann early in the last furlong but he finished strongly to carry the day by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s not a bad horse at all and we went a decent gallop today which suited him. I’d like the way he went to the line and he’ll have no trouble getting a mile and a quarter next year,” declared Foley.
Robbie Colgan picked up a one-day careless riding ban on the fourth-placed Stinglikeabee who gave the winner a bump in the closing stages.
ON his first day back in action since the winter season began, Colin Keane started off with a double which came courtesy of two last-gasp winners.
First, it was the turn of Art Of America who sprang a 20/1 surprise in the BetVictor-sponsored 45-75 handicap over an extended 10 furlongs. Noel Meade’s charge had been largely out of sorts since winning twice within eight days towards the end of the 2018 season but a very patient ride worked the oracle for this four-year-old.
Art Of America came with a steady effort off the last bend and, in a frantic finish where the lead changed hands four times inside the distance, Keane’s mount landed in front on the line. The Philip Munnelly-owned gelding edged out Queen Amidala by a short-head and is likely to return here in the coming weeks.
Wings
Keane then followed-up on the 25/1 shot Trish’s Company in the Connolly Kelly Accountants Fillies Maiden over a mile. Royal Highness seemed sure to score when she moved on inside the last furlong but the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Trish’s Company, who was stuck behind a wall of horses at one point, sprouted wings to nail Royal Highness on the line.
The winner carries the colours of her breeder Michael Smith and was having her third outing after two unplaced runs on turf. She is likely to be put away until the spring.
The sparingly campaigned six-year-old Lady De Vesci (8/1) took her tally to four wins from 18 career starts in the mile-and-a-quarter claimer. The Michael Halford-trained daughter of Approve got the better of the always prominent Alabaster to score by half a length.
There were no claims for the Frank Sommer-owned and bred winner although the fourth-placed evens favourite Tennessee Wildcat was claimed for €7,000 to join Damien English and John McConnell gave the same amount for the eighth-placed Mere Ironmonger.
Lord Rapscallion back in the driving seat in second win
SHANE Kelly notched up his second victory of the winter season courtesy of Lord Rapscallion in the iCopy Handicap over a mile.
Johnny Murtagh’s charge hadn’t won since August 2018 but had run a number of good races in defeat since then. The well-supported 4/1 shot, who carries the colours of the Rapscallion Syndicate, led over a furlong from home for a commanding three-and-a-quarter-length triumph. The winner drifted left in the closing stages and hampered a couple of rivals which resulted in his rider picking up a two-day careless riding ban.
A 9lb hike in the weights for scoring over this course and distance last month didn’t prevent the Hilary McLoughlin-trained Count Of Carabass (10/1) from following up in the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap. Chris Hayes was again on board the Gold & Blue Syndicate-owned winner who defeated Alfirak by half a length.
The evening began with a fifth career success for the 75-race veteran Pillar (11/2) in the 45-65 rated five-furlong handicap. Conor Hoban made all the running on the Sean Gallagher-owned and Adrian McGuinness-trained six-year-old who defeated Polly Douglas by a length.