HE possibly hadn’t enjoyed the best of luck up to this point but on his fourth start of the season Aidan O’Brien’s Finn McCool got off the mark with a willing display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF C&G Maiden, which offered the promise of yet more to come.

On his debut, the Galileo colt was badly undone by the road crossing in Leopardstown’s backstraight and last time out he looked somewhat unlucky in finishing second in a Curragh maiden. However, Kingfisher’s younger brother, who also contested last month’s National Stakes, enjoyed a much more straightforward time of things on this occasion.

Finn McCool took over the lead from stablemate The Eagle with around a quarter of a mile to run and then knuckled down well under pressure when pressed by the strong-travelling newcomer Harbour Beacon. There wasn’t much between the front pair as they entered the last furlong but Donnacha O’Brien’s mount pulled out plenty to carry the day by half a length.

“He’s still a bit babyish but he has an engine. The second is probably a nice horse and it was a nice performance,” reflected the winning rider.

She has been a relentless improver all year and Sister Blandina (7/1) ended her season on a high with the narrowest of victories in the well-contested 10-furlong handicap. Johnny Murtagh’s charge had already won three times this year and shot up some 29lbs in the weights since April but she showed here that she remains on an upward curve.

The Bridge Bloodstock-owned daughter of Mastercraftsman battled with Green Or Black over the last furlong and Seamie Heffernan got her to the front in the last stride.

“She’s improving all the time but I’d say that could be it for the year,” declared Johnny Murtagh. “The owner is keen to go again next year and that’s what we might do. I think she could progress into a premier handicap type next year.”

LANDMARK WIN

The victory of Jessica Harrington’s I’m So Fancy in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden was a landmark one for the filly’s sire Rajj who was registering his first success on the track. The unraced Danehill horse stands at Homer Scott’s Lisheen Stud, where this filly was bred, and he has been represented by just six runners on the track.

For her part, I’m So Fancy had shown up well in several smart two-year-old maidens through the second half of the season and she deserved to get her turn. On this occasion, Colm O’Donoghue struck for home with well over two furlongs to run on the 8/1 chance. Having initially been toiling in vain, the favourite Key To My Heart closed in over the last furlong and only lost out by a head.

“She wants all of a mile but she needed the line there, Colm just felt she got lonely in front,” reported the trainer of the James Nicholson-owned winner. “She’s had a few runs this season now so we’ll leave her off and look forward to next year.”

A pair of smart jumpers dominated the outcome of the two mile maiden but not in the order expected as She’s A Star (7/1) outpointed the odds-on Vigil. Fresh from a successful debut over hurdles at Listowel, She’s A Star got into full flight for Colin Keane early in the straight and she headed Vigil just under two furlongs from home.

The latter stuck to his task well on his first outing since finishing sixth to Yorkhill at Cheltenham in March, but She’s A Star always looked to have him covered. She carried the day by three-parts of a length.

“She’s quite buzzy at home and we don’t do too much with her so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d say she’s one that could win on the flat again,” commented Noel Meade, who trains the talented daughter of Well Chosen for Philip Meade. “She’s not the biggest, but she’s tough. I’d imagine that she will go back hurdling now.”

Eddie Lynam ended the day with two winners to his name after reeling-off an opening race double. The trainer launched a four-strong challenge for the older horses’ maiden over five furlongs and this could hardly have worked out better as Miss Power defeated stablemate Magic Bear. Robbie Downey produced the Sabina Power-owned filly with a strong charge on the outer heading towards the last quarter of a mile and it didn’t take long for the 7/1 chance to master A Likely Story.

Miss Power stuck to her task well to account for Magic Bear by two lengths.

It was then the turn of the Lynam-trained Future Icon (6/1), who made it three victories in 2016 when taking the apprentice rider’s handicap over the minimum trip. Ana O’Brien, who was on board the four-year-old when she won during the summer, took the mount once again and she bided her time before producing Future Icon to lead inside the distance. The Aileen Lynam-owned daughter of Acclamation quickly got on top for a two-length victory over Battleroftheboyne.

Tipstaff (evens) followed his promising debut at Gowran last month by landing the 10-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

This well-bred son of Street Cry briefly looked to be in trouble early in the straight but he was soon back on the bridle and came through to lead with over a furlong to run. After first seeing off Ample Sufficiency, the Godolphin-owned colt then stayed on well to the line to finish two and three-quarter lengths clear of Chocolat Noir.

“Kevin said he’s still growing up and learning his trade but he stayed on really well there and he’s going to be a nice prospect for next year,” remarked Ger Flynn.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Molony, L. McFerran, J. Collins, S. Power, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

CLONGOWES (J.S. Bolger): On his debut, this New Approach colt was beaten five lengths into third in the maiden won by Finn McCool. There was plenty to like about the manner in which he finished out his race and there will surely be more to come from him if he gets the chance to run again this year.

Suspension

KILLIAN Leonard, who partnered Battleroftheboyne into second in the apprentice handicap, was given a two-day suspension for failing to ride in a straight line from his starting position until he had reached the marker poles.