Vimmerby sets the standard

Darragh Morrissey, Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland all recorded doubles in the first round of the 2014 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels on Saturday night at Curraheen Park, but it was the John Kavanagh-trained Vimmerby who set the bar highest with his terrific display in the second of the 13 heats.

Despite moving middle on the run-up, the John Somers, New Ross, owned 5-4 favourite had the pace to lead Indigojack around the opening bends, and, with stamina assured, he pulled clear to record an impressive five-length victory over that rival, in 28.11.

Tyrur Dicky was the first of three bitches to prevail in the heats, the Tom O’Neill-trained litter sister to Tyrur Supermac and Tyrur Nathan doing so with an authoritative display in the opener. A 5-1 chance, on her seventh career start, she broke better than ever, and made all for a five-length victory over Lemon Pumba, in 28.27.