THE Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot is next on the agenda for Tiger Belle, after she landed a gamble in the Irish EBF Median Series Sires Maiden.

Bought for £70,000 last month, the Adrian McGuinness-trained Cotai Glory bay was returned at 6/1 from early shows of 20s.

Always towards the head of affairs under Ronan Whelan, she had a good tussle with Jenni (11/4 favourite) from over a furlong out and just a neck separated them at the line.

“We bought her at the breeze-ups off Con Marnane a few weeks ago, he said she was very fast and she is,” McGuinness said of the Shamrock Thoroughbreds owned victor.

“She’s only going to improve and is one of the fastest two-year-olds I’ve ever had. She’ll go for the Queen Mary now.”

There was another successful debutant in the Follow Us On Instagram Maiden, with Harbour Wind running out a game winner under Leigh Roche.

Returned a 14/1 chance, the Dermot Weld-trained, Moyglare Stud Farm-owned three-year-old made all, fighting off the challenge of Cuban Dawn inside the final furlong, with a neck the winning margin.

The winning trainer/owner combination were also represented by Time Tells All, who finished a poor fifth despite being sent off the clear market leader at 8/11.

Delighted

“We were disappointed with the favourite obviously but delighted with this horse,” Kris Weld, son of the winning trainer, explained.

“He’s a lovely, kind and honest horse. We’ll probably look for a nice handicap with him in a month or six weeks.”

Favourite backers were also left reeling after the opening Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden, with Bold As Love (10/11) only managing seventh.

This six-furlong contest went the way of Tango Flare (13/2 from 16s) who justified plenty of market support under Luke McAteer for Pat Foley.

In the colours of Ray McSharry, the Fullbright four-year-old came through to lead over a furlong from home and was kept up to his work in the closing stages to see off Kings Tim. “That’s the first time he’s run like his work has been,” Foley commented.

“He was second over seven here last season but dropping him back was probably the key to him, six seems to be his trip.

“Whether he’s sold or not, we’ll see. I think getting a bit of black-type should be no problem to him.”

ADMIRAL Nelson registered his first success since winning on debut at the Curragh in June 2020, as he came out on top in a blanket finish to the Buy Tickets Online At www.corkracecourse.ie Handicap.

The 68-rated Kingman gelding was bought for £440,000 as a yearling and was trained by Aidan O’Brien in his early years, finishing eighth when sent off favourite for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Now in the care of Johnny Levins and having finished no better than seventh on his last 12 outings, he was unsurprisingly sent off at 40/1 with Donagh O’Connor in the saddle.

Settled behind the leaders on the nearside group, he was pushed along over two furlongs from home, soon drifting towards the centre of the track.

He ultimately stayed on best inside the final furlong, prevailing by a head in the colours of professional footballer Jonny Hayes.

“I was very encouraged by his run at Gowran the last day,” Levins revealed. “Donagh felt that seven is his trip, somewhere like here with a straight track and riding him handy from a nice draw. We were quite pleased when we saw this race.”

Romann finished sixth for Levins in the concluding Racing Again June 16th Handicap, with the Andy Slattery-trained Khafaaq obliging under Cian Horgan.

Second winner

A second winner in as many days for the Slattery/Horgan combination, the eight-year-old was recording his first win since September 2021.

An encouraging second at Gowran last week, when fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time, the chesnut gelding was sent off a 15/2 chance (from 12s) in the colours of the Eight Star Syndicate.

In front from the two-furlong pole, he battled on gamely when ridden in the closing stages, seeing off the late effort of No Hassle by a short-head.

“He just lost his form but seems to be coming back to himself. He slipped to a good mark which is a help,” Slattery stated.

“Cian was nearly a year without a winner up until yesterday so to get one two days in-a-row is great. He deserves it as he’s a hard worker.”

Summer of fun for GAA group

HEADED by GAA stalwarts Anthony Cunningham and Brian Gavin, Team Giddy Up Racing Club enjoyed their first success with Summer Snow in the Blackwater Apprentice Handicap.

Trained by Ross O’Sullivan, the grey filly went from one side of the track to the other, as she came from last to first under a patient Jake Coen ride.

She ultimately won going away at the odds of 9/1 (touched 20s early), as she came home a length clear of Angel’s Feather.

“It’s great to give the syndicate their first winner,” O’Sullivan remarked. “It’s a great start for them with their first horse on just her second run for them. They hope to expand and have another one in the pipeline.”

Not Too Real Bad was also returned at 9/1, as she too finished strongly to land the Follow Us On Social Media Handicap.

Trained by Tom Mullins and owned by his wife Helen, the Exceed And Excel bay raced in mid-division under Shane Foley.

Another gear

Ridden over a furlong from home, she soon found another gear in the centre of the track, getting up in the final strides to beat Escaping Thejungle by a head.

“We came to the conclusion after the last day that she didn’t see out the six in Dundalk,” the winning handler divulged.

“We said we’d go five wherever we go next and we waited for here. She’s getting stronger all the time.

“There is another three-year-old only sprint in the Curragh on June 7th. She might go there next.”