SLIGO missed most of the rain that affected Tuesday’s other flat fixture at Killarney and the ground remained just on the slow side of good for a card that featured some impressive maiden winners.

Foremost amongst them was 2/5 favourite Entropy, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Ms Morna McDowall, who was a very easy winner of the older horses’ maiden over the extended 10 furlongs.

The Sea The Stars colt tracked the leaders before moving into a challenging position on the home turn and swept past the front-running Granville Street over a furlong out to beat that rival by eight and a half lengths.

Winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle remarked: “He’s been a little bit unlucky to be drawn bad around Leopardstown the last couple of times and was just hitting the crossbar. Today was a nice chance for him and he travelled everywhere for me. He’s progressing well and could be a horse for a premier handicap.”

Oliver on the mark

Andy Oliver snared a couple of maidens at Sligo’s first meeting of the season and the Tyrone handler was on the mark again when 11/10 favourite Gradulations landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Runner-up on her previous two outings at Gowran Park, the daughter of Mukhadram, who carries the colours of his wife, sat second before Ronan Whelan sent her on approaching the straight. She readily went clear and was eased in the closing stages to beat A Shin Undine by three and three quarter lengths

“She had run well the last couple of times and we know she stays so the slightly extended trip (10 furlongs) suited her,” said Oliver.

“She’s a big, strong filly who’s very ground-versatile and we should have plenty of options with her.”

Shunter shows flat potential

TRAINER Emmet Mullins had a strong hand in the concluding mile and five-furlong maiden and the market spoke strongly in favour of talented National Hunt performer The Shunter (5/6 favourite) in preference to stablemate The Gossiper.

The result reflected the betting moves as The Shunter, patiently handled by Simon Torrens after being a little slowly away, made good headway to lead over two furlongs out.

Soon ridden clear, he stayed on to win by four and a quarter lengths from Beautiful Chaos with easy-to-back stablemate The Gossiper finishing unplaced. The J.P. McManus-owned winner was having his first run under flat rules.

Emmet Mullins said: “Bar one run at Cheltenham this year, which we never really got to the bottom of, he hasn’t really let us down any day. He’s got a great constitution and you’d forgive any horse one bad run.

“It’s not often you see nine-year-olds win flat maidens on their first attempt, so he’s opened up another door and I suppose towards the backend of the season we might look towards staying flat handicaps.”

Best finish

The best finish of the evening came in the Kilcawley Construction Handicap as Derry Lad (7/1), under Nathan Crosse, needed every yard of the 10-furlong trip when coming from well back to head Talbot close to home and gain a half-length victory.

Kevin Coleman, who trains the Epaulette gelding for the Dreamers Alliance Syndicate, said: “He needs that trip and a good gallop. We thought we were a good thing coming up with all the rain, and then five minutes outside Sligo it was as dry as a bone!

“Soft ground is the key to him and he just about got away with it today. He will stay further and I’d say two miles might be his trip in the end.”

Tom Madden recorded his first success since returning from a foot injury sustained at Gowran Park last August as he guided 3/1 favourite Princess Rajj, owned and trained by Jessica Harrington, to a comfortable win in the three-year-old sprint handicap.

Soon in front, the market leader was ridden clear in the straight to beat Pandemic Princess by six lengths.

“She showed a bit of pace today but she’d probably stay up to a mile,” said Madden.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to the Santry Sports Injury Clinic, Wayne Middleton, Dr Jennifer Pugh and also to Mrs Harrington and the team at home. Hopefully that winner will get me going again.”

JACK Davison sent out his fourth winner of the campaign when Sally Golightly landed the Rosses Point Caravan Park 3-y-o Handicap over 10 furlongs.

Ridden handy by Donagh O’Connor, the 12/1 chance led narrowly approaching the straight and, having been headed and tightened up by flattering favourite Dark Note over a furlong out, rallied bravely and was well on top at the line.

Owned by Alida and Goetz Bechtolsheimer, the daughter of Zoffany was a length and a quarter victor in the end over Level Pitch. O’Connor said: “She didn’t have much room on the rail and some fillies would lie down when that happens, but she’s hardy and toughed it out. “I’d say stepping her back up in trip and riding her similarly, she could move up through the ratings.”

Mass Gathering (25/1) upset some higher-rated rivals in the six-furlong claimer to provide Belmont, Co Offaly trainer Joseph ‘Gerry’ Murray with his first success. Gearoid Brouder’s mount, owned by the Lios Dearg Partnership, sat second before hitting the front entering the straight and ran on well to beat Royal Tribute by a length and a half.

“I worked for George Webb for five years before getting my own licence,” said Murray.

“She’s a good little filly who had an injury in the past and Tom Cleary, who used to have her before me, and his son Paul did a great job with her. They swam her in the Shannon which helped to recover.

“She came to me when I started out and has had a few little issues and it’s taken nearly a year to get her right, but she has just been coming to hand.”