IT may have attracted a mere four runners but the opening race of the year at Roscommon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race, produced the finish of the night from which Jessica Harrington’s newcomer Boho did especially well to emerge victorious.

The victorious son of Big Bad Bob, who was picked up for €50,000 by owner Cristina Patino’s Anamoine Ltd at Goresbridge last year, looked to have plenty on as he lined up against the 98-rated Burgundy Boy and the Leopardstown maiden winner Future Proof. However, he overcame his inexperience to edge a three-way finish and become his trainer’s seventh winner in the previous six days.

Burgundy Boy and Future Proof went toe to toe from some way out but Boho was a menacing presence in behind them approaching the last quarter of a mile. Colm O’Donoghue then switched his mount to the outside and, despite showing signs of inexperience, Boho looked to have done enough for victory early in the last furlong.

The race was far from over though as Future Proof rallied in the centre and Burgundy Boy finished out his race well against the far rail and the three seemed to cross the line in unison. However, the angle at Roscommon is a deceptive one and Boho got the verdict by a neck from Future Proof with Burgundy Boy a further nose back.

“He’s always shown a good level of ability at home. He’s a strong minded sort and we’ve had to pull him together but he should improve a good bit from this. He was a bit babyish but he was entitled to be for his first run,” said the winning rider.

STUCK AGAIN

Fresh from pulling off a gamble at Cork on Saturday the improving Bianca Minola (11/4) struck again in the 50-85 rated handicap over just short of a mile and a half. Another fine advertisement for the talents of trainer Richard O’Brien, the four-year-old was sent to the head of the field by Billy Lee nearing the last quarter of a mile. She soon had the measure of all bar the favourite Curley Bill but, hard as he tried, the latter could do no more in the closing stages and he went down by a length.

“I couldn’t see any reason not to run her after Cork, she seemed terribly well. Billy felt she travelled better on that ground, it was a bit gluey in Cork. I haven’t got her in anything but with the form she’s in I probably won’t delay with her,” commented O’Brien. “I’m thrilled for her owner Clive Washbourn. He’s got quite a few horses in training in England and he adores the filly. He’ll get a great kick out of this.”

John Burke sent out his first winner since Killahara Castle pulled off a 200/1 shock at Thurles just before Christmas as Like An Open Book got up late on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. A three-times winner under National Hunt rules, the eight-year-old daughter of Well Chosen was returned the 7/4 favourite to build on an encouraging flat run at Dundalk last month. Wayne Lordan’s mount needed every yard of this near mile and a half trip but she dug deep when it mattered most to overhaul Minnie Dahill by a neck. The winner is owned by the trainer’s sister Elaine.

“It’s great to get a win on the flat out of her and hopefully we can get some black type with her over hurdles. We thought she might get it at Punchestown (sixth to Dawn Shadow) but the ground just went against her there,” reported the trainer’s father, Paddy.

Well Why Not (10/1) continued her recent progression as she added the 10 furlongs three-year-old handicap to her success at Navan last month. The daughter of Frozen Power, who has gone up 16lb in the weights for her last two efforts, turned in another willing display under Chris Hayes. She responded to her rider’s promptings to press the front-running For Pleasure with over a furlong to run and she gained the upper hand inside the distance to prevail by a length.

“Chris said that the ground is the key to her. He said if it comes up good for the summer we should put her away until the backend. She’s improving with every run and if it stays soft we will keep going with her,” observed Antrim-based Adrian McAllister who trains the winner for the McCarragher Partnership.

RAPPORT

Noel Meade and Mark O’Hare have struck up quite a rapport lately and the pair combined for their third bumper winner in as many days as the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Momus (3/1) dominated the Kepak Flat Race. The Touch Of Land five-year-old, whose only previous racecourse outing yielded a midfield finish in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over Christmas, took over in front shortly after turning for home in this two and a half miles contest. He was soon being stalked by fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Desir Du Large but he maintained an unfaltering tempo to the line to finish with 13 lengths to spare.

“He’s a nice horse. He wasn’t showing much early on but in the last six weeks he’s after turning inside out and he’s a big tall horse who will be better again with a summer’s grass,” remarked Meade. “It’s not easy to get someone of Mark’s experience who claims 5lb. It’s like having a free 5lb.”

Screaming Rose (11/8) and The Kings Baby served up a terrific tussle in the concluding mares beginner’s chase from which the first-named emerged victorious to record her first win since August 2016. The Willie Mullins-trained and Nigel King-owned winner was strongly pressed by The Kings Baby from the second last but she showed a fine attitude for David Mullins to scramble home by a head. The first two did come close together in the closing stages but unsurprisingly the stewards enquiry left the placings unchanged.

The tough and reliable Dinnie’s Vinnie (7/1) notched up his fourth victory since October in the three miles Myitdepartment.ie Handicap Chase. The 10-year-old, who is trained by Philip Dempsey and was ridden by his son Luke, adopted his customary position in the front rank and had plenty left in reserve for the closing stages. It looked as though Concordin had been delivered with a winning challenge at the last but crucially Dinnies Vinnie produced a quicker jump there which enabled him to score by three parts of a length.

“He battled well and Luke got a great tune out of him. They suit each other well. He has been on the go since September so he does deserve a break at some point but we will see what’s coming up for him,” declared Philip Dempsey whose charge is owned by the TFC Syndicate.

Acting Stewards

D. Pugh, P.J.A. O’Connor, N. Rooney, G. McCourt, H. Hynes

Horse To Follow

BOOM OR BUSH (H. Rogers): Ran well in handicap won by Bianca Minola. His two efforts this season suggest that he will be able to add to the Down Royal success he recorded last summer.