TRAINER Joseph O’Brien completed a double at Limerick on Saturday, highlighted by unbeaten Dante’s Pass (9/2) win in the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Insta Race.

The seven-race card was run on heavy ground and while O’Brien also ran easy-to-back 11/4 favourite San Andreas in the race, that 105-rated gelding failed to cope with the surface, finishing fourth behind comfortable three-length-winning stablemate Dante’s Pass (for owner Rolline O’Callaghan).

O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said: “It was a likeable performance and he is a lovely horse. He obviously hadn’t run until Listowel, did it well there and was green early but stayed on well.

“Shane (Crosse, winning jockey) said he loves that ground and left him sit behind the leaders and do his own thing. He has come on in leaps and bounds and can only keep improving as he is a big tall horse.

“He said he’d get a mile no problem, could even get one mile, two furlongs so there are loads of options with him. He has a great mindset and is the most relaxed horse you’d ever get.”

Royal win

Earlier in the day, O’Brien had won the Welcome Back To Limerick Racecourse Maiden with well-backed Royal Blend (morning 9/4 to even-money favourite), who scored by two and three-quarter lengths under jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle for the Al Mamoura Partnership.

The daughter of Zoffany had been second in three previous maidens and following this breakthrough win, Powell stated: “She absolutely loves the ground – the boys say it is absolutely bottomless, but she loves it.

“He (Browne McMonagle) was going to make the running but said they went hard and Artician stopped. Today is the first time I’ve seen her pick up from off the bridle and she found a lot.

“I think that trip and ground is ideal for her and we wouldn’t mind finding a little blacktype race for her on that ground soon.”

RACING began with the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden which was won by lightly weighted Eastern Wind (5/1), for whom trainer Tom McCourt has the Birdcatcher Nursery in sight in the coming weeks.

She scored under apprentice jockey Robert Whearty, carrying 8st 1lb.

McCourt later commented: “She is a nice filly. John (McGovern, owner) bought her at a Goffs online sale last November for €4,500, and early on I always thought she’d like a dig in the ground.

“However when it gets this heavy, you’re just hoping they’re strong enough for it. If things went right today, I said we’d have a go at the Birdcatcher (at Naas) and that is now the plan.”

Jessica Harrington’s in-form yard sent out another winner in the concluding Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap, with Maud Gonne Spirit (8/1) scoring for owner Olivia Hoare and jockey Shane Foley.

Maud’s fourth

It was the daughter of Intello’s fourth career win and Foley reported: “The ground is a massive help and she seems to grow a leg on it. It is very tough conditions out there but she enjoys it.

“I’ll leave plans to connections but I’d say she’ll run again before the end of the season.

“She is a grand filly, is consistent and always gives her running.”

BIGGEST-priced winner was with the Kevin Coleman trained newcomer Allihies at 50/1 in the Follow Limerick on Twitter Maiden.

Ridden by Derby-winning jockey Emmet McNamara, the son of Anjaal missed the break, was held up in rear before making good headway early in the home straight.

The pair improved to lead inside the final furlong and eventually quickened to a three-and-three-quarter-length win over De Vega’s Warrior.

Afterwards, Coleman said: “I really liked him and tried to buy him at the breeze-ups and Tara Murphy recommended him, out of Denis O’Flynn’s Old Carhue Stud in Cork.

“We gave him a good break after the breeze-up. He is my last two-year-old to run and I wanted to give him one run. He is probably the best of them so I’ve saved the best for last.

“He’s not a speed horse and will be a one-mile–two-furlong to one-mile–four-furlong horse on better ground next year. He is for sale and I think he could be alright. He could step up to stakes company next year.”

Ask Delaney (10/1) was the widest-margin winner, landing the Treo Eile, Retraining Racehorses Handicap for local trainer Austin Leahy and jockey Conor Hoban.

The son of Gregorian was held up in mid-division and was produced to lead with a furlong to race before stretching clear in the closing stages to beat runner-up Born Invincible by six and a half lengths.

Leahy later said: “He was going so well at home, I couldn’t see him getting beaten! We had a bit of a worry with the ground but he obviously likes it. We were riding him half handy but today he (Hoban) changed tactics and took his time. Hopefully he’ll run again before the end of the season.”

Patient owners

Dutch Schaefer registered a first win in the Follow Limerick Facebook Apprentice Handicap, scoring for trainer Denis Hogan, jockey Joey Sheridan and owners Genesis Thoroughbreds Club.

The three-year-old daughter of Dutch Art was having her eighth start and following the race Hogan said: “It has been a long year with her as the owners have had to wait and wait.

“They had great patience and never bothered me all year and said not to run her until it is soft. They have been repaid, so thanks to them.

“She is in at the Curragh on Thursday, that is an option, and we’ll make hay for the remaining weeks of the season.”