Raffa rules in Laurels

Following in the paw-prints of 1990 winner Adraville Bridge and 2003 champ Nikita Billie, Midtown Raffa gave trainer Mossy O’Connor a third Laurels success with a thoroughly authoritative display in Saturday night’s decider at Curraheen Park.

By Kinloch Brae, out of Rafa Baby, who was a litter sister to Rossa Baby and a half-sister to former Cork Oaks winner Maireads Fantasy, he was an easy-to-back 2-1 favourite but there was never uneasiness in his performance.

In execution it was straightforward: drawn in trap two, he broke well enough to prevent any potential infringement from habitual fast starter Knocktoo Garry and, in doing so, ensured a clear path to the first bend.