A STEP up to Group 3 level is the next plan for Paul Deegan’s Spinamiss who fought hard to justify odds-on favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden.

The Lisa Kelly-owned and bred daughter of Lilbourne Lad belied odds of 50/1 on her debut to chase home Miss Katie Mae in a smart looking Curragh maiden last month and she was returned an 8/11 shot for this seven-furlong contest.

The always prominent Spinamiss went to the front for Chris Hayes entering the straight but she soon had to contend with Zeb’s Fantasy. To her credit the favourite dug deep to carry the day by a head with the newcomer Orangey Red a further neck back.

“She still doesn’t know she’s a racehorse. She’s come on for that first run but not so much mentally and she’s still babyish. Chris also felt it was the wrong way to ride her today,” said Deegan. “We’ll probably head for the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown next month.”

Chris Hayes added to his tally in the concluding two-mile handicap where He’s Our Man sprang a 16/1 surprise on his first start for George Kingston. The outsider of the six-runner field travelled notably well at the rear and cruised into contention heading into the last quarter of a mile. It didn’t take him long to master the front-running Hurricane Ridge whom he defeated by two and a quarter lengths.

“I have the horse about a month. The Kangley’s who own him are old friends of mine,” stated Kingston. “The horse won on the flat, over hurdles and fences for Ross O’Sullivan and as I train near the beach Mr Kangley felt that he’s a 10-year-old and it might put some pep back in his step. If he’s okay the plan is for him to come back here in a couple of weeks for a conditions hurdle.”

Last year’s Racing Post Trophy fourth Jacobean (5/4), who held a rating of 99 at the outset of the season, gained an overdue success in the Croom House Stud Maiden. As he tackled a mile for the first time since the opening day of the campaign, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was sent straight to the front by Seamus Heffernan. From over a furlong out Jacobean had the measure of market rival Chenega Bay who went down by two lengths.

“Some of our horses have just taken a couple of runs to come to themselves and hopefully he’s coming now,” reflected Heffernan.

HEFFERNAN DOUBLE

O’Brien and Heffernan then made it a double with Loved in the 11-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The sister to Battle Of Marengo was unable to make a telling impression when handed her debut in last month’s Blue Wind Stakes but she took advantage of this marked drop in class.

As the last furlong loomed, the evens favourite saw off the front-running Duchessofflorence and soon held a lead of several lengths. Loved needed the line late on though as stablemate On A Pedestal stormed home to get to within half a length. The latter flashed her tail under pressure and didn’t look at all straight forward but she did come home strongly.

“We were happy with her coming here and she’s a lovely filly who will hopefully move up to stakes level now,” reported Heffernan.

It was also an industrious evening for Ross Coakley who notched up the first double of his career and he completed his brace on John Larkin’s House Limit in the apprentice jockeys’ handicap. The Eugene Kavanagh-owned gelding hadn’t won on the flat for two years but only once in his previous 12 outings had he finished out of the money and he had suffered several narrow defeats during that time. House Limit (11/8) looked to be in trouble when Meadowlands moved ahead nearing the last furlong but he fought all the way to the line and forced his way to the front in the final yards.

“He deserved that and with better luck he could have won a few more by now. His owner Eugene Kavanagh is a great supporter of mine and I’m thrilled for him,” stated Larkin.

COAKLEY

Coakley had earlier struck on Liz Doyle’s Annie Irish in the Ballyduane Stud Handicap. Owned and bred by Britain-based Wilf Goddard, the 12/1 chance was produced with a steady challenge by Coakley over the last quarter of a mile. Annie Irish, who was wearing cheek pieces for the first time, saw off Apache Gold in the last 50 yards to succeed by half a length.

“I thought she’d win, she worked brilliantly the other day and she’d a good run the last day (third to Lady Ranger at Rosommon),” declared the winning trainer. “She got a lovely, uncomplicated ride and hopefully we’ll have a bit of fun with her through the summer. Her dam, Cashel Mead, was a good mare and won 14 races.”

A cool ride from Connor King enabled Kodiac’s Back to bounce back to form in the Grant Thornton Handicap over an extended seven furlongs. David Marnane’s charge finished down the field at Roscommon last time but was previously an unlucky loser at Gowran Park which meant that he was returned a well backed 3/1 favourite.

After sitting well off a searing pace Kodiac’s Back improved to lead entering the last furlong and he contained the late charge of Tom Dooley by a length and a half.

“A few things didn’t go right for him on his last few runs and the easier ground didn’t suit him the last day. He got a lovely, patient ride from Connor and that suited him well,” reported the trainer.

Careless riding

LEIGH Roche and Chris Hayes both picked up one day careless riding bans after the stewards looked into an incident in the closing stages of the two-year-old maiden.