JIM Bolger and Kevin Manning combined to record a 83/1 double on the card at Roscommon. 6/1 shot Dream Of Words provided the first win for the pair in the seven-furlong Irish Stallions Farms EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
The daughter of Dream Ahead was produced to lead inside the final furlong and got the better of Artistic Melody by a neck. Dream of Words was bred by Bolger and is owned by his wife Jackie.
“Kevin was delighted with her. He said the track is riding a little difficult the way it is laid out and she was difficult to turn on the first and second bends,” said travelling head lad Ger Flynn.
Flynn added: “When she got balanced up the straight he was always confident he was going to get to the front.
“She’s won on soft and firm ground and wasn’t beaten far at the Curragh last time so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.”
A positive ride from Manning saw Dawn Hoofer win the 10-furlong Hydrotech Handicap later on the card to secure the double.
The 11/1 shot was soon in front and kicked clear over a furlong from home to register a four-and-a-quarter length win. The Dawn Approach-sired filly is also owned by Jackie Bolger.
“Kevin decided to ride her differently tonight, take the bull by the horns, and it worked,” said Ger Flynn.
“It was a really good enterprising ride and he made every yard a winning post. She has always shown ability. She handled the ground as well.”
SURPRISE WINNERS
There were a couple of shock winners on the card and Fox Dream was the bigger-priced of those when striking at 33/1 in division one of the seven-furlong 45-65 handicap.
Shane Crosse produced his mount to lead a furlong from home and she held 9/4 favourite Dance Alone by a neck at the line.
“She wasn’t a bad filly as a two-year-old when she won and was placed a couple of times,” said Austin Leahy, who trains the winner for his wife Ellen.
He added: “She lost her way a little bit then maybe and the firm ground may have helped. She’ll probably be in at Limerick again on Saturday over six and a half.”
The second division went to the well-backed Magwadiri (5/1 in morning into 9/4 favourite) on his first outing for Jessica Harrington. Colm O’Donoghue’s mount chased down Admirality inside the final furlong to secure a three-quarter-length win.
“He hasn’t been with Jessie that long but he’s been in good form,” said O’Donoghue. “I haven’t sat on him at home, that’s the first time I sat on him, but Jessie was quite happy with the way he was coming along at home and wanted to start him off.
“We went quite quick. He’s a horse that has been held up before and run some nice races so I just wanted to get there as late as possible on him. We’re still getting to know him.”
Magwadiri is owned by D. J. Walker.
scored
The other big-priced winner on the card came in the final race of the day – the Roscommon Racecourse Handicap – when 20/1 shot Newcross scored on his first run for Tony Martin. Ronan Whelan swooped inside the final furlong to secure a two-length success over Mademoiselle Penny.
“He did that well. Tony said he was plenty fit enough to go and do himself justice,” said Whelan.
“He wanted me to take my time a bit of him but not to give him too much to do.
“He loved the ground and he travelled everywhere for me. Once I got a bit of light and got him rolling he finished out well.
“Tony’s done a great job to freshen him up and had him spot on. Hopefully there will be more to come from this as it’s first run in a while.”
Newcross is owned by Newton Anner Stud Farm.
TIGHT FINISH
The tightest finish of the day came in the opening Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden. Kestrel Prince just got the verdict at the line. Ger Lyons’ newcomer Kestrel Prince was sent to post the 9/2 joint-favourite and lunged late, under Colin Keane, to lead on the line and deny 50/1 shot Showmethegin by a nose.
“I thought we were maybe third, or second at best, so it’s a lovely surprise,” said Lyons.
“He’s a grand little horse and will learn plenty from it. It was as rough a two-year-old race as I’ve seen and we were out of it, thank god.
“That was probably the winning of the race, Colin used his head, took his time and educated the horse.
“I’m delighted for Damien Nolan who is an old owner of mine but is part of this syndicate (Gaelic Thoroughbreds). I didn’t know it but he’s just in from France and has his mother here, so it’s nice.
“We’ll have a look at a winners’ race and see if we could go for a premier nursery or something. We’ll take what we can and won’t get carried away.”
DESERVING
Geoff Cannon was a happy owner after Innamorare claimed a deserved victory, at odds of 100/30, in the seven-furlong claiming maiden under Chris Hayes.
The Intense Focus filly, trained by Cannon’s daughter Clare, led a furlong and a half from home and stuck on well to score by three-parts of a length from Eadbhard.
“She was bought on my account, unbeknownst to me, when I was in Italy – hence the name Innamorare,” said the winning owner.
“She had been knocking on the door and was only beaten by a nose at Dundalk last month. We thought she had it then.
“It’s a long way down from County Down to here. It was nearly five hours to get down here but it’s been worth it. I’ll go back happy!”
Cantstoptherock, who finished 10th, was the only horse claimed. Olly Murphy paid €5,000 for the Society Rock filly.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Lethal Power was another deservedly getting his head in front when taking the 10-furlong Connaughton Auctioneer’s Maiden.
Shane Foley made virtually all on the Acclamation colt and he stuck on well at the business end to hold High Mounte by three-parts of a length.
“I have to give the owner (Flor Ryan) credit. I was struggling to find a mile-and-a-quarter handicap for him and he said why don’t we go for a maiden,” said Murtagh.
handicapper
“He’s a well-bred horse and it’s good for him to win. He’s rated 80 so I don’t think the handicapper can do much to him. Hopefully he’ll be able to win his handicap off that.
“We’ll see how he is now, there is no rush now, the pressure is off as he’s won his race.
“I’ve been telling the owner he’s going to win for the last three runs!
“We can maybe give him a little bit of time now, as we’ve been hard enough on him, and see can he improve up to what I think he can be.”
ACTING STEWARDS
D Pugh, Judge R Groarke, W Penrose, P Dunican, H Hynes.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CHAMPAGNE MARENGO (J Murtagh): Seemed to struggle with the track and then caught behind fading runner in the straight, yet still made up ground fast when switched. Definite progress from his debut and he can go a lot closer next time.