A RESURGENT Dick Whittington showed that he has gradually been restored to the peak of his powers with a smooth victory in the Group 3 Oliver Brady Memorial Shabra Ballycorus Stakes.

In winning this seven furlongs contest and capping a memorably day for Aidan O’Brien, who won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Rip Van Winkle horse was recording his first success since landing the 2014 Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. Last season the 7/4 shot was restricted to just one outing, but he has steadily returned to form this year and came here off a good third in last month’s Greenlands Stakes.

The race itself went smoothly for Dick Whittington and Seamie Heffernan’s mount had an ideal position tracking the front-running Al Mohalhal as the runners turned for home. The Ballydoyle horse quickened nicely to lead entering the last furlong and he went to the line well to finish two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Al Mohalhal. There was almost five lengths back to the third placed Dont Bother Me.

“He likes an ease in the ground and six or seven furlongs is ideal for him. He’s a genuine Group 3 or Group 2 horse,” said Joseph O’Brien. “This seven furlongs suited him well. He’d a tough three-year-old season with a couple of setbacks – nothing major – but he’s come back well. He should be very competitive in these sorts of races throughout the season.”

The fast-improving Ceol Na Nog made it three wins in succession in the 10 furlongs rated race, which could have set her up for a quick return to the fray at Down Royal this afternoon. The daughter of Teofilo was taking on her two opponents on rather advantageous terms, as her revised rating of 86 had yet to catch up with her, and she was duly returned the 4/7 favourite. Kevin Manning made all the running on Ceol Na Nog who sauntered clear from the turn in to finish some seven a half lengths ahead of Roibeard.

“She’s very versatile in terms of trip and ground and she’s an oil painting to boot. Anything from a mile to two miles is fine for her and two miles might bring out the best in her. I’d say there’s a bit more to come from her,” reported Jim Bolger, whose wife Jackie owns the winner.

CLAIMER

Seven pounds claimer David Simmonson, who has recorded the majority of his victories in Britain, notched up his first triumph since February 2015 on Mirdif in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs. In the colours of Sheikh Khalifa Al Maktoum, which have been worn with distinction by a host of high profile Mike de Kock inmates, the Kodiac colt was looking to build on an encouraging debut fourth at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago. The 3/1 favourite made all the running and moved into a useful advantage nearing the last furlong, which saw him come home one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Istan. The Michael O’Callaghan inmate was moving his jockey on to the 15 winners mark.

On her first flat outing since winning at Killarney last July, Lagostovegas defied top weight in the Shabra Charity Handicap over a mile and five furlongs. The winning hurdler, who competed against some of the country’s top juveniles over the winter, was running for the first time in three months and made all under Conor Hoban. The 7/2 favourite looked to have seen off Black Label early in the straight but did get a little weary late on. However, despite her rival’s renewed effort, the John Donohue-owned filly prevailed by half a length.

“This race was the plan for her and the rain came in time,” reflected Harry Kelly. “Ideally Conor would have liked a lead at some stage and she did get a bit lonely in front. The plan would be to head to Galway for either the amateur rider’s handicap or the mile and a half handicap on the Friday.”

After reaching the frame in five of her previous eight starts, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Californiadreaming notched up a deserved success under Ana O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile. The 79-rated daughter of Fastnet Rock was travelling nicely entering the last couple of furlongs and when an opening presented itself between the leaders, she picked up well to assert. The newcomer Grainne’s Dream finished with quite a flourish but she was still half a length adrift at the finish.

“She’s been running consistently and was entitled to win that,” reported Joseph O’Brien. “The race worked out well for her. She got cover and it probably suited that she was trapped in a pocket for a while. She’s a nicely bred filly and will probably try for black type at some stage.”

Colin Bowe made it three winners in as many days as Don Vincenzo (4/1) turned over Mr Fiftyone in the amateur rider’s maiden. Barry O’Neill’s mount, whose last win came over fences in October, was travelling smoothly when he cruised upsides Mr Fiftyone early in the straight and it was immediately apparent that he had the favourite’s measure. The Mob Partnership-owned winner soon moved clear and he crossed the line with four lengths to spare.

“He’s very versatile and he likes nice ground. He’ll probably head to Galway for something over fences,” reported the trainer.

The classic-winning combination of Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes picked up the Korean Racing Authority Handicap with the back to form Jefferson Davis. As he looked for his first win since picking up a Killarney nursery last August, the 5/1 chance seized control of this three-year-old mile handicap early in the last furlong. He defeated Camile by a length and three-quarters.

“He didn’t handle the really firm ground at the Curragh last time. Ideally he wants it good. That ground is as slow as he wants,” reported Hayes of the Silverton Partnership-owned gelding. “It was a shrewd move by the boss to put the blinkers back on him tonight.”

Gordon Lord Byron was reported to have scoped badly following his fifth place finish in the Ballycorus Stakes.

Following the running of the handicap won by Lagostovegas the stewards looked to speak to Michael Hussey regarding his riding of the ninth placed Trespassed. However the rider had left the track which meant that the matter was referred on to the Turf Club.

ACTING STEWARDS

M. O’Donnell, M. Cosgrave, M. Hillman, R. Ryan, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

GRAINNE’S DREAM (W. McCreery): This Acclamation filly came home nicely to secure second in the fillies maiden over a mile and a reproduction of this effort should enable her to get off the mark in the coming weeks.