DONNACHA O’Brien’s good form continued into this fixture as a canny front-running ride on his father’s El Greco in the Ladbrokes Irish EBF Race moved the jockey on to the 50-winner milestone for the season.
The concluding day of Derby weekend at the Curragh was the last time that Donnacha O’Brien left an Irish race meeting without a winner. He showed just why aboard this son of Galileo who was running for the first time since landing a Cork maiden in mid-May.
At the weights and on ratings the 11/4 shot had something to find with a couple of his rivals but from early on he was able to dictate a tempo to suit himself.
As he rounded the turn for home, El Greco took a couple of lengths out of the chasing pack and, from this point on, his rivals were always struggling to reel him in.
The even-money favourite, Scriobh Nua, led the chase for much of the straight but she could do more late on and the strong-finishing Mattymolls Gaga threw down the strongest challenge but he was still a head adrift at the line.
“He’s an uncomplicated horse who is able to jump and travel and it’s a big advantage when they can do that around here. He tries hard,” said the rider.
Birth Of Venus disappointed when favourite for the concluding contest here on Sunday. She banished that effort to the distant past with a clear-cut triumph in the four-runner Bet Now With The Ladbrokes App Handicap.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge, who carries the colours of Heather Fitzpatrick, headed the market at 11/10 for this 11-furlong affair and she looked altogether more comfortable throughout.
Wayne Lordan produced the daughter of High Chaparral with a steady effort over the last couple of furlongs and she forged to the front inside the distance to come two lengths clear of Rockabill.
“I thought that she’d win here on Sunday but there was a lot of pace in the race, we went quick and she just never got a chance to travel. Today she jumped and travelled and she’s done that well,” stated the jockey.
RELIABLE
The reliable Koybig (5/2) notched up the victory that his recent efforts merited with a last-gasp triumph in the Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap.
The top-weight lost out by just a nose at Bellewstown last time and had been beaten under two lengths in each of his last four outings but there was to be no narrow defeat this time.
He answered every call from Chris Hayes over the last furlong and a half to nail the front-running Prosecution on the line.
“He deserved that the way he has been running. After the last day Chris said to try cheekpieces on him just to help him through the race,” commented trainer Pat Murphy.
“I’m delighted for Derek Leonard, who is a great owner, and I’ll have a chat with him about whether we give him a little break or instead go to Galway.”
FLAT DEBUT
Fresh from notching up two wins over hurdles, Ingleby Mackenzie made a successful flat debut for Eoin Doyle as he shrugged off the burden of top weight in the Ladbrokes-sponsored 45-65 handicap over 11 furlongs.
The patiently ridden 3/1 favourite moved into a challenging position for Ross Coakley with over two furlongs to run and quickly stamped his authority on the race for an assured length and a quarter success over Touch Gold.
The winner could easily add to his tally on the level over the coming weeks.
“He’s been improving over hurdles and he’s only a four-year-old with a nice bit of size so hopefully he’s progressive,” reflected Coakley.
“I’d also like to dedicate this to Laura Barry. We did many years pony racing together and she was a great girl and we’re all thinking of her family at this difficult time.”
Easy victory
Willie Mullins introduced a smart looking recruit from France in Easy Game who made short work of his opponents in the Ladbrokes-sponsored two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
The gelding, who was acquired for Wicklow Bloodstock after finishing fourth in an AQPS race in Fontainebleau last October, enjoyed a most straightforward Irish debut under Paul Townend.
The 4/5 favourite was never out of the first two and eased clear after the second last to score by seven and a half lengths.
The versatile Pass The Ball followed-up his flat success at Bellewstown with a front-running triumph in the Download And Bet With The Ladbrokes App Handicap Hurdle.
Niall Madden’s charge was the 7/2 favourite for this 80-102 rated two-and-a-half-mile affair and the trainer’s son, Niall, never had an anxious moment aboard the nine-year-old.
The J.P. McManus-owned gelding didn’t have to be subjected to strong pressure to finish three and a half lengths clear of market rival Messie.
“He was good, he likes that ground. He’s a very versatile horse and hopefully there’s one or two left in him,” declared the winning jockey.
“I’m home for a few days and it’s lovely to come back and ride the likes of him.”
Joseph O’Brien’s Beautiful Citi (6/4) made it two wins from three career starts in the Ladbrokes-sponsored mares’ bumper.
The Sean O’Driscoll-owned daughter of Fame And Glory was among three previous winners in the six-runner line-up and she picked up best off a sedate pace when the sprint for home began with over two furlongs to run.
Five of the six runners still held every chance as the last furlong loomed but Tom Hamilton’s mount finished off best to defeat the Gowran scorer Tina Marie by a length.
ACTING STEWARDS:
P. Barry, J. McGuire, K. Horgan, O. Kearney, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
HASSELNOTT (J.F. Levins): This five-year-old produced his best effort of the season when finishing a close third in the handicap won by Koybig. Last season he showed up well at the Galway Festival and he could be one to follow if turning out again at Ballybrit.