IT took Colin Keane just two rides to get back amongst the winners after a week long spell on the sidelines and the champion jockey couldn’t have hoped for a smoother return to the winner’s enclosure as Smile Of Love annihilated her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

After starting her career with top-five finishes in maidens won by Discoveries and Homeless Songs last season, this daughter of Tamayuz boasted by far the best form in the line up. On her first start for a year she ran a fine race to chase home Spring Feeling at Tipperary earlier in the month and her compelling form claims allied to that fine comeback effort saw her go off a deserved 4/7 favourite.

Eased

The Ger Lyons inmate, who is owned by David Spratt, Lynne Lyons and Sean Jones, eased to the front with well over two furlongs to run in this near one-mile affair. She soon cruised clear at her leisure and she ended up reaching the line 10 lengths ahead of the 73-rated The Vik.

“She got an injury last year and Ger has been very patient with her,” remarked the trainer’s brother Shane. “She was just ready to start back in Tipperary and she’s been training very well since then. The way she won there she could move up to stakes level.”

Another easy maiden winner came when the experienced Aidan O’Brien representative Ark (11/8), whose previous brave front-running effort at the Galway Festival came up just a neck short, dominated the Meath Farm Machinery Fillies Maiden over an extended mile and a half.

The reliable 79-rated daughter of Galileo made the most of her stall one draw to go straight to the front. She dominated at all stages under Wayne Lordan and reached the line four and a quarter lengths clear of White Caviar.

ANDY Slattery notched up his fourth winner in six days and was already looking towards next spring as Flame Of Eire made it three wins on the spin in the 50-80 rated Lougher Handicap over just short of a mile.

A 15lbs hike in the weights for her last two wins failed to trouble this Mary Harney-owned filly whom Andy Slattery junior produced to lead at the furlong pole. From this point on Flame Of Eire was in control and she finished just over a length clear of the staying-on Scarlet Angel.

“We were confident coming here. She’s never worked as well as she did last week and maybe she could be one for the Lincoln next spring. We might give her one more run this season,” commented the trainer.

Tide Of Time (10/1) made up for his neck defeat in the race last year by running out a clear cut winner of the J.H. McLoughlin Oil Handicap over the minimum trip. The Eddie Lynam stalwart was 4lbs lower than he was in 2021 and he also had the assistance of Sorcha Woods’ 7lbs claim.

Asserted

On his first run for two and a half months, the Trevor Dalzell-owned eight-year-old was going notably well with over a furlong to run and he asserted in fine style in the closing stages to finish a length and a quarter ahead of Curraheen Princess. Tide Of Time was notching up the eighth win of his career.

The evening began with a winning debut for Joseph O’Brien’s Roaring Gallagher in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

The Declan McDonogh-ridden son of the late Roaring Lion produced a willing effort from the front and did very well to win at a track where previous experience is such a notable positive. The well-backed 15/8 shot looked vulnerable inside the last furlong as Betterdaysrcoming seemed poised to take charge. However, the evens favourite jinked right approaching the road crossing and forfeited valuable momentum which Roaring Gallagher capitalised on to hold on for a head success. This relation to Islington is owned by the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate.

“Declan said he travelled well but that he hated the track and he said there’s a hell of a lot of improvement in him,” remarked the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell. “He’s a big horse with a long stride. Joseph has sent out the likes of Tosen Lydia and Pretty Gorgeous to win here and I’m not saying he’s there yet, but I think he could be very good.”

IT was an excellent evening for owner-trainer James McAuley who picked up both divisions of the 47-65 rated Southgate Centre Drogheda Handicap over just short of a mile.

The first leg of this double was supplied by the 10-year-old 18/1 chance Eastern Racer who was recording his first win for two years on his fifth start for the trainer. Billy Lee produced his mount to strike the front as the final furlong loomed and the pair reached the line with a length and three-quarters to spare over What Adaay. Dundalk could figure on the winner’s agenda.

Chris Hayes was on board the other McAuley-trained winner which same when Caesar’s Comet (16/1) struck for the first time since landing a claimer at this track last July. In a tremendous finish where many of the runners were in with some chance as the final furlong loomed, Caesar’s Comet finished out best of all to defeat Heer At Dawn by a length and three-quarters.

Bounced back

The meeting concluded with a winner for Sam Curling and Derek O’Connor as Monas Melody (10/1), who pulled up in a premier handicap at Galway last time, bounced back to form in the Panda Power (Q.R.) Handicap over an extended two miles.

The 87-rated Alfred Sweetnam-owned six-year-old came with a determined challenge between horses as the last furlong loomed. She picked up well inside the distance to cut down last winner’s No Thanks before holding the staying-on National Ballet. This effort was much more in keeping with the form that saw her run a close fourth to Harry’s Legacy in a useful handicap at Killarney last month.