NATHAN Crosse took the riding honours on day one of the July Festival meeting at Bellewstown when partnering a 77/1 double aboard Fleetfootsoldier and Plugged In.

Fleetfootsoldier, successful at Dundalk this spring, overcame an absence of over three months and also survived a stewards’ inquiry having edging left inside the final furlong before staying on strongly to beat Lasting Peace by two and a quarter-lengths in the Champion Lettings Handicap.

“We had him down as an all-weather horse. He’s big and raw so we gave him a bit of a break and he took ages to get ready,” said Carrick-on-Suir based Kevin Coleman who trains the 5/1 winner for his mother Eileen.

“He needs a mile and further. He tries hard and there is a lot left in him because he’s big and weak.”

It was a case of horses for courses in division two of the Peadar Kearney’s Pub Handicap where the Andrews Syndicate-owned Plugged In (12/1) quickened impressively on the outer inside the final furlong to beat The Bog Bank by all of five lengths.

Worked out

“He won here last year and likes it here. He was drawn 18 so it’s hard from there and we decided to drop him in and it’s worked out,” said Curragh-based trainer Jim Gorman.

“I only have two in my own name to train at the moment and my son Cathal does a great job and rides them out every morning.”

Gorman later returned to the winner’s enclosure but this time in his main role these days as assistant trainer to Luke Comer after Oranmore (14/1-8/1) took command from over a furlong out to beat Fire Coral by three and a half lengths in the McNally’s Pharmacy 365 Handicap.

“He ran well in Leopardstown and this place has been so lucky for me and Luke down through the years,” said Gorman.

“He locked on a bit going down the back and Chris (Hayes) just let him go forward. He stays well and I was surprised he handled the ground (changed to yielding after the first race) so well. It’s been a great evening.”

KEVIN Coleman was a shade unlucky not to saddle a treble on the card as both West Of Wichita and Only Spoofing lost out in very tight finishes.

G’Day Mate went one better than his debut at Down Royal last month when the 11/10 favourite edged out West Of Wichita by a short-head in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington was represented by her daughter Kate who said: “There isn’t much of him but he’s really thrived after his first run and I’m delighted for the Marnane team as they have provided us with some lovely two-year-olds this season.

“We might find a winners’ f one or there is a possibility that he could go for the Anglesey at the Curragh on Oaks weekend as Shane (Foley) says that he is crying out for a straight track.”

Surprise

Coleman was also just denied in the Indaver Ireland Handicap where Only Spoofing went down by a nose to Curraheen Princess which was a surprise to many including commentator Jerry Hannon.

The pair were neck and neck throughout the final furlong but the 11/10 favourite had her head down where it counted on the line.

Winning rider Andrew Slattery said: “Tom (Egan, owner) was just saying we have a 100% record together this year so it can only go downhill from here! She got 6lb for winning the last day and it was a good performance carrying a lot of weight.”

Booked ticket

Party Central, trained by Gordon Elliott for Bective Stud, may have booked her ticket for the Galway Festival after justifying odds of 4/6 with a comfortable three and a half lengths verdict over Jesse Evans in the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker, Crockafotha (Q.R.) Race.

“She broke well enough from the stalls and settled well today. She can be keen but we went a lovely gallop and it suited her,” said winning rider Harry Swan.

He added: “I actually couldn’t really pull her up so I suppose all roads lead to Galway now. She will have options there and can go on any ground.”

ADRIAN Murray has enjoyed a good run with his juveniles over the past few weeks with group race wins at both Royal Ascot and the Curragh and he struck again with Royal Craftsman in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.

The 8/1 shot was prominent throughout and kept on best in the closing stages to beat Tartaraghan by three-quarters of a length.

“She’d a good run the first day and has improved a lot since, her work was very good at home,” said Murray of the Jose Souza Guerra-owned filly. “We might go for a listed fillies race next. She stays well and Robbie (Colgan) said she was doing everything very easy and a better race would suit her.”

What Adaay, backed from 10/1 into 4/1 favourite, justified good support in division one of the Peadar Kearney’s Pub Handicap when holding off Rampage by a neck.

“The rain was a help and once it came we were conscious that we had to ride her to get the trip. It looked like she didn’t get home in Limerick the last day,” said owner/trainer Pat Martin.

“I didn’t put cheekpieces on her the last day and Dylan (Browne McMonagle) said she really needed them today as she idled in front.”