THE appropriately named Autumn Evening maintained a strong run of form for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley in the featured Friends Of The Curragh Pollardstown Handicap.

This €60,000 consolation race for horses who didn’t make the cut for last month’s Cesarewitch attracted a decent turnout but an apparently open race was a fairly one-sided affair in the closing stages as the Joe O’Flaherty-owned gelding recorded his first win on the flat. Fresh from a good second in a premier handicap at Listowel, the very useful hurdler was travelling powerfully in a forward position nearing the straight.

The five-year-old had most of his rivals covered a quarter of a mile out and kept on well to defeat Harry’s Legacy by two and a quarter lengths.

“He’s a lovely horse. He didn’t get into the big one but maybe next year he’ll get into it. I don’t think the handicapper will miss him for that,” remarked the trainer. “They went quick and he travelled beautifully for Shane. We were thinking of going over fences but I’m not sure what we will do now. There are some good flat handicaps in Leopardstown and Naas so he’ll probably get entries in those.”

Clear-cut

A full field of 30 went to post for the concluding IRFU Charitable Trust Handicap but this six-furlong contest also yielded a fairly clear-cut winner in Eddie Lynam’s Heavenly Power (13/2) who might yet develop into a force in the sprinting division. On just his fourth outing of the season the lightly raced Sabena Power-owned four-year-old made strong headway for Shane Crosse to move to the head of the field on the stands’ side inside the final furlong and he kept on well to finish two lengths clear of Cnodian.

“He’s bred to be a better horse than that as he’s a half-brother to Slade Power. He’s been a bit late to mature but travelled well and did it well today.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Hippodrome took a step forward on the form of his first two runs to land the Mongey Communications Irish EBF Maiden over nine furlongs where he looked a nice middle-distance type for next year.

Seamie Heffernan sat close to the pace on the 5/2 favourite who took over in front approaching the last couple of furlongs and kept on determinedly to hold off Harsh by half a length.

Sheehy fractions Rock solid on Lumiere

A THEME of the autumn season has been juvenile fillies breaking their maiden at pattern level and Joseph O’Brien’s Lumiere Rock became the latest to achieve that feat in the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes over a mile.

As she followed in the footsteps of Basil Martini and Aspen Grove by opening her account at this level, the Michael O’Flynn-owned daughter of Saxon Warrior was crediting Mikey Sheehy with his first win at this level.

In late August. Sheehy rode out his claim by landing the Cambridgeshire on Federal and another notable Curragh success was in the offing for the 19-year-old as he got the fractions spot on from the front. Lumiere Rock looked vulnerable when Speirling Beag loomed up approaching the final furlong but the victorious 11/1 shot lengthened away in good style inside the distance. She went to the line with purpose to defeat Gozen by a length and a half.

“I was able to make my own running and then kept building it from around half a mile out,” stated the rider. “Every time something came to her she kept finding and she should make a very nice three-year-old. It’s my first group winner and I must say a massive thanks to Joseph and the owners for putting me up.”

Memorable

It was also an afternoon to remember for jockey Meryem Walsh who rode the first winner of her career when the Harry Rogers-trained Final Endeavour (12/1) landed Tesoro Vita Ladies Trophy (Q.R.) Handicap.

The experienced six-year-old, who is owned by Susan Bury, raced on the pace throughout and kept going splendidly in the straight to score by two and a half lengths. The 11-year-old El Tren, previously a dual winner of the race, ran a superb race to take second having given the winner plenty to do throughout the final half mile.

“I’m delighted for Meryem. She’s a hard worker and does everything in the yard and she really does deserve this. This horse enjoyed the ground and he’s not a bad sort. He could make a nice jumper,” stated the trainer.

“Inspired” Lee delivers on Dreaming

THERE was quite an upset in the offing in the Bord Na Mona Brigid’s Pastures Stakes as the 79-rated Are We Dreaming (20/1) struck for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee.

This newly introduced six-furlong listed contest attracted a competitive-looking 13-runner field and Are We Dreaming looked one of the less obvious contenders. However, she ploughed a lone furrow down the centre of the track at the head of the field and sustained her charge in fine style to defeat My Eyes Adore You by two and a quarter lengths.

“It was an inspired ride by Billy. He got her into a lovely rhythm and when horses get into a rhythm they go better and further than anything else,” reflected the trainer. “Hugh Hyland, God rest him, will be looking down. He was a part-owner of this filly so it will give a bit of a boost to the Oghill crew.”

Going places

Another sprinter going places is Pat Murphy’s Craft Irish (13/2) who made it three wins from her last four starts in the RFL Steels IRFU Charitable Trust Handicap over six furlongs.

Jake Coen took the mount on this smart and lightly raced Ardad filly who took over in front from the ultra-consistent Curraheen Princess heading towards the final furlong before getting home by a length and a half from the strong-finishing Screen Siren. Craft Irish, who is owned by the J & J Racing Partnership, was wearing first-time cheekpieces.

“It’s special that she’s won today for her owner Jay Bradley, as it’s his dad’s third anniversary since passing,” reflected Murphy. “This filly is improving the whole time. Jake said she had loads of boot and loved it today.

“She’s tricky but is getting better with racing so hopefully we’ll get another few out of her. She could come back here for the Testimonial Stakes back here in a couple of weeks.”

Loingseoir repeated last year’s success in the O’Reilly Consulting Group Supporting the IRFU Charitable Trust Apprentice Handicap where Michael Grassick sent out his first winner in the colours of his mother, Miriam.

Jack Cleary rode a patient race as he had most of the field to pass after halfway in this mile handicap. Loingseoir began a powerful charge inside the last quarter of a mile and led in the closing stages to reach the line a head in front of Coins Cross.

“He loves that ground and loves coming from off the pace and it’s great to give Jack a winner,” remarked the trainer. “That is his first winner for us and he comes in three mornings a week.”