TEENAGE sensation Jack Kennedy rode out his claim over jumps nearly two months ago but can still claim 3lb on the flat, and the Dingle native was surprisingly having his first ride on the level this season when recording an easy win aboard Queen Alphabet in the Like Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap.

Owned by Carmel Ennis and bred by her son Cathal, the dual-purpose mare was sent off the well-backed 7/2 joint-favourite and Kennedy made virtually all on the seven-year-old, quickening clear over a furlong out in this mile and a half event to beat My Direction by a convincing six lengths.

Winning trainer Peter Fahey said, “She’s a grand mare. Things didn’t work out for her the last day at Killarney as it was a stop-start gallop. It’s unlikely that she will go to Galway, and there is a nice fillies’ handicap (Connacht Oaks) at Sligo the following week that would suit her. I’d love to go back over fences with her as I think she’s made for that game.”

Winter was strongly supported in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, but it was another juvenile owned by the Coolmore partners that collected as Butterflies (16/1) scored at the third attempt.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained daughter of Galileo and Mariah’s Storm is a half-sister to Giant’s Causeway, she was prominent throughout, and headed the front-running Decisive Intent inside the final furlong to score by a length under Emmet McNamara. The evens favourite was nearly four lengths further back in third as the 16-runner field finished well strung out.

“The step up to a mile suited as she was just taken out of her comfort zone over seven (furlongs). I think she will get further and it will do her confidence good,” said McNamara, who added: “It looked a deep race beforehand, and Declan (McDonogh) kicked off the home bend and made it a true test. She’s obviously very well-bred and is a valuable horse now.”

CHARLES O’BRIEN

McDonogh later went one better when Uninhibited routed her six rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The 5/4 favourite made all and cruised clear in the straight to beat Cavelli by an eased down six lengths.

Charles O’Brien, who trains the daughter of High Chaparral for Paul McMahon, said, “She is over 16 hands and is a lovely big, scopey filly who is only growing into herself now. That will do her confidence good. It will be the eternal quest for blacktype, and she could come back here for the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes (August 10).”

Just three went to post for the www.gowranpark.ie Median Auction Race, and the extended nine furlongs event was effectively a match with Pretty Love sent off at 100/1. Shane Foley elected to make the running on Tonkinese but 2/5 favourite Radiantly appeared to have his measure when travelling ominously well early in the straight.

However, the hot favourite found little when coming under pressure, and the Godolphin-owned 2/1 chance kept on well to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Michael Halford said: “He’s straight forward and you can let him bowl along. These races are good for horses that are not quite up to blacktype level. A mile and a half was a bit too far the last day, and I’d say a mile and a quarter is his ideal trip. He’s kept busy leading Portage at home and he does a good job of that.”

Gary Carroll partnered his fifth winner in four days when producing in-form course specialist Enough Is Enough with a storming late run to beat Serefeli by a length and a quarter in the Racing Again August 10th Handicap.

Owned and trained locally by Paddy Meany, the 7/2 favourite has gained all four career wins at this venue, with three of them coming in the last two months. A search of the programme book for future Gowran Park meetings is obviously top of the agenda!

Denis Hogan has a quick reappearance at the Galway Festival in mind for Masonbrook Lady, sporting the Burke family colours made famous by Grand National hero Bobbyjo, after the 7/1 chance (10/1 in the morning) drew clear inside the final quarter-mile to beat Lizard Point by four lengths in the Thomastown Handicap.

“The blinds have done the trick and Gary (Halpin) said she was a lot sharper with them on,” said Hogan. “The ground was a bit slow in Killarney the last day but she still ran a fair race. She’s entered in Galway on Thursday, and a penalty for that win may get her in,” added the Cloughjordan trainer.

FRONT-RUNNER

Nicaragua, trained by Con O’Keeffe for his wife Clare and Tadhg O’Sullivan, overcame a seven-month break to take the Gowran Park Apprentice Handicap. The Zamindar filly was another on the day to adopt successful front-running tactics as the Ana O’Brien-ridden 16/1 shot came home five and a half lengths clear of Ask Katie.

O’Keeffe, best known as the stallion master of Kilbarry Lodge Stud near Waterford City, said “She had a few nice runs last year but was then a bit disappointing so we decided to give her a break. Her action would suggest that she would like a bit of a cut in the ground but she seemed to handle that today. They are making a bit of a print in it.”

Acting stewards

P. Coveney, E. Halley, V. Connolly, P. Curling, S Quinn.

Horse To Follow

LIZARD POINT (P. J. Flynn) Well-bred gelding who improved significantly on previous modest form when stepped up here to a mile and a half. Looks well capable of success off his lowly rating.

O’Donoghue ban

COLM O’Donoghue was given a one-day suspension (breach of Rule 213) for failing to report before a running and riding enquiry that his mount I’m So Fancy stumbled on the home turn in the juvenile fillies’ maiden.