THE former dual champion flat rider Donnacha O’Brien sent out his first winner of the 2020 Irish flat season when Great House bagged the older horses’ mile-and-a-half maiden under Gavin Ryan.

O’Brien struck with Mythologic at Dundalk in March, that one also ridden by the very promising Ryan, and over the first three weeks of the season a host of his inmates have run creditably in defeat. Among them is this weekend’s Prix de Diane challenger Fancy Blue who ran so well to take second in last month’s Irish 1000 Guineas.

For his part Great House looked a shade unlucky not to make a winning debut at Gowran last month but he made amends here. The 8/15 favourite knuckled down well over the last couple of furlongs to fend off the efforts of the high-class jumper Peregrine Run and, lastly, Liquid Luck.

As a result of being born in late December the winner has the unfortunate distinction of being classed as a four-year-old – had he been born just four days later he would be a member of the classic generation, which makes his first two performances quite meritorious.

“He was entitled to do that after his run in Gowran and I think he could be a decent horse,” said O’Brien. “Whether he can compete at stakes level, we’ll see.”

Gavin Ryan was earlier successful on the unconsidered 33/1 chance Hisnameis Mrdevitt in the second division of the three-year-old mile handicap.

Johnny Feane’s charge hadn’t shown much in four previous runs but it was all change this time as he came with a tremendous charge over the last quarter of a mile to nail the favourite Shona Mea late on. Feane trains the son of Epaulette for the Handbrakes Down Syndicate.

The card concluded with a smooth victory for Wajaaha in the mile-and-a-half handicap. The five-year-old was expected to progress well from his comeback at Roscommon a fortnight previously as he was backed into 6/4 favouritism and he made short work of these opponents under Sean Davis.

The progressive Charles Byrnes inmate was an easy three-and-a-half-length winner and could now head to Galway.

Ronan Whelan picked up a three-day careless riding ban after the stewards looked into an incident in the straight.

Ger Lyons has no shortage of talent among his juveniles and he introduced another nice type in To Glory who made a winning debut in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series (C&G) Maiden.

This fine son of Toronado, who carries the colours of the trainer’s stalwart patron Sean Jones, was nicely placed behind the leading pair from an early stage and asserted in likeable style for Colin Keane over the course of the last furlong. To Glory (5/2) finished this six-and-a-half-furlong event strongly to defeat the once-raced Magnanimous by one and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s a lovely, big horse. He was very straightforward and professional and he ran to the line nicely. He’s a horse who I think will only improve with a bit of time,” remarked the winning rider.

Billy Lee’s decision to take a brave inside route in the Irish EBF Median Sires Fillies Maiden was rewarded on Inner Beauty (5/2) who was a clear-cut and cosy winner. After a good first run at the Curragh, Ken Condon’s charge didn’t seem to perform to quite the same level at Tipperary next time, but she was restored to her best and coped well with this six-and-a-half-furlong trip.

Lee had to bide his time for a run but was rewarded for his patience approaching the last furlong where he was able to angle off the rail to challenge, and once she was in clear Inner Beauty quickly asserted. The David Kelly-owned filly reached the line two lengths ahead of Consternation.

“She ran a lovely race the first day when I dropped her out but we went forward with her in Tipperary next time and it didn’t seem to suit her,” stated Lee. “Today I took my time and it seemed to really suit her. She’s a nice filly.”

Although out of luck with the disappointing Giogio Vasari in the race won by To Glory, Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan did strike with the long odds-on Dawn Rising (2/9) in the mile-and-a-half Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The brother to last year’s Irish Derby hero, Sovereign, came here off a fourth to Galileo Chrome in a Curragh maiden and took advantage of a gilt edged opportunity to make all and finish a dozen lengths clear despite still looking a bit green.

He looks more than good enough to hold his own at stakes level.

TRACEY Collins sent out her first winner of the season as the dependable Noirvento returned from six months off to land the 45-65 rated six-and-a-half-furlong handicap.

The 4/1 joint favourite was given a fine waiting ride by Ronan Whelan to deny the game Bay Of Skaill who set a brisk tempo and sustained that effort in fine style. The Alter Ego Syndicate-owned mare had half a length to spare at the line.

After seeing his Bay Of Skaill go down fighting in the previous contest, Joe Murphy enjoyed better luck with Dark Design (100/30) in the first divide of the 45-65 three-year-old mile handicap. Buachaill Or slipped clear of the field turning in, to open up a commanding lead, but the 33/1 shot suffered an agonising defeat as Shane Foley got the Galtee Racing Syndicate-owned Dark Design up in the last couple of strides.