Geraghty bounces back with winner
Torrential rain before and during racing made conditions very testing, but the Michael O’Brien trained Goss coped well with the rain-sodden ground and got the better of the Murrayfield and disappointing favourite, Golden Row in the closing stages.
Denis Cullen, son-in-law and assistant trainer to Michael O’Brien, explained: “Barry said that he was a little free over the first but that he settled well enough from there and jumped very well. He’ll probably go handicapping now and will keep running through the summer.”
Pat Smullen was seen at his strongest when bringing Tara’s Gift with a strong late surge to deny Queen For A Day in the Gilmartins Kiltimagh Handicap.
Trained by Michael Cunningham, and bred by his wife Ann, Tara’s Gift was continuing a tremendous run of success, recording her third win from four outings.
Jockey Alan Donoghue, better known for his exploits in the National Hunt sphere, recorded his first win on the flat when Amanda’s Princess outstayed her rivals in the John David Lynch Memorial Handicap which developed into a real test of stamina.
Donoghue poached a clear lead early on the final circuit and the Dusty Sheehy-trained mare had enough in reserve to hold the late challenge of locally trained outsider Cochis Run by threequarters of a length .
Jockey Wayne Lordan was in hot water with the stewards following this contest in which he rode Sophiyah.
Lordan rode a finish on this mare with a circuit to race and was suspended by the stewards for three days.
Lady Portia, trained by John Quinn, provided jockey in form Tadgh O’Shea with another success in the opening Finches Orange Maiden, easing clear of Mrs. St. George to score by three lengths.
Davy Russell has to work hard to get Muscadier home a narrow winner from Heavenly Comet in the Carney's Bar Handicap Hurdle, this gelding landing a tidy gamble for trainer Arthur O’Grady.
Trainer Willie Mullins landed the bumper with the 10-1 shot Miss Congeniality, which was produced with a well timed challenge by James Nash to make a successful debut at the expense of Nairobi.
