Blaze burns off rivals in maiden
Berry, who has been struggling for winners of late, showed no lack of confidence, driving the filly into contention in the straight.
Pat Smullen committed Lake Worth before half way, but the winner gradually wore him down and was nicely on top close home.
“She’s as tough as old boots”, remarked Harrington. “I ran her over the wrong trip the last day, she’s a miler.
“I hadn’t thought beyond this, but it may be a winners’ of one next.”
Pat Flynn saddled a one-two in the Jackie And Gene Handicap, with Jeangeorges beating Edmondstown Lass.
Danny Grant sent the winner ahead off the home turn and Jeangeorges quickly scampered right away.
Commented Flynn: “The cheekpieces worked completely, he has been minding himself a little bit.”
Tom Hogan had his first winner since January when Spinning Wings ran her rivals ragged in the Listowel Racecourse Handicap.
In front after some two furlongs for Ben Curtis, she made the rest to easily beat Easy Mate and the disappointing Dafarabad.
Said Hogan: “She’s tricky, very hard to manage and gets upset before her races. Hopefully, he (handicapper) won’t be too hard on her.”
Laura Hourigan was seen to advantage when taking the Kingdom Race on False Economy, trained by her father, Michael.
She grabbed the initiative at the three furlong pole and False Economy held on well as Caesar’s Song closed him down through the final furlong.
Said Hourigan senior: “We always thought a bit of him, he wants this ground. He will probably now go for a winners’ of one and mix it over hurdles as well.”
Jim Bolger’s Roches Cross made a winning debut with a gritty display in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
Powered ahead off the home turn, he found plenty for Kevin Manning pressure to resist the persistent challenge of fellow first-timer, Kevin Prendergast’s Tiz The Shot.
Gamble of the contest was Aidan O’Brien’s Snow Mountain, well beaten on his debut at the Curragh.
Backed from 3-1 to 7-4 favourite, Snow Mountain didn’t enjoy a clear run in the straight, but wasn’t going to take a hand anyway.
Ned Mitchell had a welcome turn when 12-1 shot Luddenmore streaked away with the Listowel Castle Handicap.
Sent on well over a furlong down by Sean Levey, he coasted clear to score by two and a half lengths.
“I have no plans, but he will keep going for the summer”, reported Mitchell.
David Wachman, fresh from a double at Tramore on Saturday, was on the mark again when generously priced 7-1 chance Sixteen Forty Two streaked away with the Clieveragh Handicap.
Confidently handled by Michael Cleere, Sixteen Forty Two quickened from the furlong pole to beat Northern Rocked, far from neglected morning prices.
