PADDINGTON may not be seen again until 2023 but he left the lingering impression that he could develop into quite a high-class three-year-old for Aidan O’Brien after he dominated the Bill Hanlon Memorial Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs to kick off a Ballydoyle treble.

The Siyouni colt couldn’t make a telling impression on his debut at Ascot in early September but he looked an entirely different proposition here. Seamie Heffernan took a lead from stablemate Carracci until moving into a definite lead two furlongs from home and it was all one-way traffic from there on. Paddington (16/5) maintained a strong gallop to defeat Rochester Mike by a resounding five lengths.

“He was very green at Ascot but he always showed us a bit of class. He’s probably finished for the season and we’ll look towards one of the Guineas Trials in the spring with him,” reported O’Brien.

Showing promise

The speedy Hispanic promptly followed up for O’Brien and Heffernan in the Friarstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden over the minimum trip. After showing promise on his first couple of outings this son of No Nay Never was fitted with first-time blinkers and he burnt off his rivals from the front. Shortly after halfway it was apparent that the 3/1 chance had this race in the bag and he kept on strongly to dish out an eight-length beating to his overmatched rivals.

“He was very green on his first run and was even greener the next time so we put a pair of blinkers on him at home and he grew another leg. Mentally he was just a little immature,” remarked O’Brien. “He’s very fast and he quickened up well. I’m not sure there’s much left for him although there is a listed race at Doncaster we could look at.”

Carrying the day

Wayne Lordan made it 50 winners for the season as Harley Street brought up the O’Brien treble in the Hollywoodbets Live In Ireland Maiden over a mile and a half. A reasonably encouraging debut sixth at this track last month saw this son of Kodiac go off a well-backed 5/6 favourite. From the turn into the straight Harley Street and Hibernia Oppositus had this race to themselves and the former began to get on top nearing the final furlong before carrying the day by a length and a quarter.

“He ran a nice race the first day when he was a bit green and he looked that day like he was crying out for a step up in trip. He’s a very unexposed horse and could make a lovely four-year-old,” stated O’Brien.

Likeable effort for O’Brien

THE 87-rated American Sonja produced a likeable effort to get off the mark at the fourth attempt in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlongs.

Dylan Browne McMonagle was seen at his best on Joseph O’Brien’s charge as he was positioned on the far side of the track and that group had plenty of ground to make up on the trail blazing Mccauley’s Tavern under the stand’s side rail. It was only in the last couple of furlongs that the champion apprentice elect asked the 10/11 favourite for her effort and she responded in fine style with a relentless charge that carried her to the front nearing the furlong pole. The Mark Dobbin-owned daughter of Tasleet eventually finished three and a half lengths ahead of the pace-setter.

“Dylan said he knew the horse on this side has lots of experience and he was a little worried but he didn’t want to ask her to go any quicker than she was. He was good on her,” remarked Brendan Powell. “Dylan liked her and said she’ll get seven furlongs no problem and that ground is probably as soft as she’d like. She’s entitled to move up in class now.”

Better things

Jarlath Fahey’s Boher Road (7/4) looks a horse who can go on to better things after opening his account at the third attempt in the Hollywoodbets Supports Brentford Football Club Maiden over a mile. The Pat McCarthy-owned and -bred son of Vadamos filled the runner-up spot in a Listowel maiden last month and built on that with a willing effort.

He got to the front for Ronan Whelan with over a furlong to run and kept on well to hold the favourite Painters Palette by three-parts of a length.

“He’s a nice horse who has improved and learnt with every run. We’ll see what mark he gets now and he could go hurdling too, but we’ll see what Pat would like to do. He’s a good supporter of ours and it’s lovely to get a winner for him,” remarked the trainer.

Chally shoots in for Powell

MICHAEL Halford has a progressive sort on his hands in Chally Chute (9/2) who followed up a recent win at Dundalk in the 47-70 rated Hollywoodbets.ie Handicap over a mile and a half. A cool Jamie Powell rode a race of confidence and patience on the Julie White-owned four-year-old and he deftly threaded his way through the field on the inner from the turn in to pounce inside the distance and defeat Magnetic North by a length and a half.

“I’m delighted to give Jamie a winner. His Dad was a great friend of mine and his grandmother taught me to ride,” stated Halford. “This horse got hurt last year and we had to wait with him but he’s progressing now and he won nicely. He’s a horse who should keep improving next year.”

Colin Keane levelled up the title race with Billy Lee as he made it 81 winners for the season aboard Michael O’Callaghan’s Facethepuckout in the 47-65 rated Hollywoodbets-sponsored seven-furlong handicap. Formerly with O’Callaghan, the six-year-old returned to the trainer lately after being purchased privately by his wife Siobhan and he bolted up off a mark some 17lbs lower than the one he last won off at Listowel three years ago. The 100/30 favourite will bid to follow up at Gowran on Tuesday after coasting home by six lengths.

The afternoon concluded with a 33/1 winner as the Leigh Roche-ridden Mymomentintime dominated the 47-75 Hollywoodbets-sponsored five-furlong handicap. The Susan Finn-owned and trained three-year-old showed up well to be placed in a Tipperary handicap during the summer on his penultimate start and bounced back to that form with a commanding three-and-a-quarter-length victory which suggests he could be a sprinter to follow on slow ground next term.