Timely boost for Smullen
Weld, who captured the first nursery of the season with Hidden Charm at the Curragh on Sunday, followed up when Smullen partnered top weight Gripping to a convincing victory in the Commons Nursery.
Smullen tracked the leader Seven Gold Rings before seizing the initiative and the daughter of Green Desert drew clear to score convincingly. Gripping is likely to be aimed at another nursery in the coming weeks.
The double was completed when Wildnerness Bay, in the colours of Dr. Ronan Lambe, triumphed in the Fairyhouse Corporate Hospitality Filly’s Maiden.
Once again Smullen tracked the leader Danielli, challenged to take the lead at the furlong pole before prevailing narrowly after a protracted struggle.
Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh will also be in big race action at Newbury today and were on the mark on last night’s card, Kinane partnering long odds-on favourite Swiss Cottage, trained by John Oxx to a smooth success in the TEC Electrical Median Auction Race.
Earlier Murtagh, returning to action after taking a few days off to rest and get his weight under control, scored an unlikely success on Dream Catch in the Club Fundraising Event Handicap.
Trained by Michael McCullagh, Dream Catch overcame an absence of almost nine months when defying top weight in spectacular fashion, sweeping past the flattering Inishmot Lady before drawing clear to score by five lengths. A trip to Galway is now likely for this winner.
Meanwhile David Wachman was expected to land the opening two-year-old maiden at Limerick last night but not with 12/1 shot Ice Princess.
Aliceinwonderland was sent off 1/4 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden but couldn’t find a way past her front running stable-mate and faded to finish third.
Wayne Lordan had sent debutante Ice Princess straight into the lead and was joined by the odds-on shot entering the straight, but it was the daughter of Grand Lodge who found the extra gear. Macho Dancer stayed on for second.
“She works well in front at home so I decided to pop out and make it,” revealed Lordan.
“She’s tough and stayed on well.”
Laoise Beag also made all to land the Personal Protection Handicap and could turn out again at Galway on Wednesday following the convincing success.
Rory Cleary kicked for home early in the straight and the filly responded well to his urgings in the closing stages to beat Windsor Dancer by two lengths.
Nok Twice had run promisingly at the Curragh last weekend and confirmed the merit of that effort when taking the Ladbrokes.ie Handicap.
The Peter Casey-trained gelding cruised into the lead two furlongs out, under Seamus Heffernan, and stayed on well to beat Karramalu by two lengths.
Chris Hayes has been making plenty of headlines this season and his elder brother Patrick put himself in the spotlight when saddling his first winner as a trainer courtesy of Homestead in the “Passport” Coors Light (QR) Handicap Hurdle.
It was also a first winner ‘on the track’ for amateur Colm Murray, who produced the gelding with a perfectly timed run to burst through in the closing stages and beat Drumdell’s Biddy by half a length.
Grand Lili landed her second novice hurdle of the season when taking the Mr Binman Novice Hurdle in good style under Brian Byrnes.
