No chance for bookies as Slim Chance lands gamble
The Jimmy Coogan-trained debutante Slim Chance, backed from 20/1 to 10/1, captured the Gordons Gin Median Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden at the expense of Backbench Blues, prompting her trainer to admit: “She’s been working well and we thought she’d be hard enough to beat. She’s nice and should improve from this experience.”
Hayes received high praise from trainer Charlie Swan after completion his double on Lady Bennett in the Guinness Fillies Handicap, the tough High Chaparral filly getting the better of Dart Queen.
Swan said, “She’s not simple or straight-forward and Chris gave her a lovely ride. She’s entered for a couple of handicaps in Galway, a three-year-old handicap and an all-age race. She should be able to run again quickly, so that’s where she’ll be heading.”
With the Galway Festival only hours away, Dermot Weld was on the mark when odds-on favourite Flic Flac came through strongly to thwart Boom To Bust in the seven-furlong Bailey’s Irish Cream Maiden
Winning rider Pat Smullen commented: “She won the way she was entitled to win on her form and her rating. I was worried that the ground might be a bit quick for her but she handled it well and picked up nicely. Hopefully, it’s a good omen for next week!”
Ken Condon has enjoyed a tremendous run of success in July and, in Wexford to saddle his runners, missed seeing Liberty Island follow-up a recent all-weather win at Dundalk in the opening Smirnoff Handicap over his optimum trip of five furlongs.
The six-year-old Statue Of Liberty gelding got home by a head and a short-head from Queen Grace and Gandolfini in a three-way photo-finish. Alan O’Flynn, representing Condon, said: “He’s a real five-furlong specialist. Ross (apprentice Ross Coakley) rides him at home and gets on well with him. This is the lad’s third winner.”
Johnny Murtagh and Ger Lyons, who will be represented by The Reaper in the big sprint handicap at Newmarket today, combined to win the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Handicap with Trans City, a Trans Island gelding, which proved too strong for Why But Why
Lyons commented: “He’s a horse I’ve always liked, a lovely individual. He needs decent ground and has the size to make a dual-purpose horse in time.”
Sadler’s Mark, a rare flat winner for trainer Dermot McLoughlin, captured the Harp Lager Handicap in the hands of apprentice Danny Mullins.
