Dandy Man gets off mark in style
Trained by Con Collins, for long time patron Alfie McLean, Dandy Man travelled strongly throughout for Pat Shanahan and quickened clear in great style inside the final furlong to slam the favourite Mama Angela.
Tracy Collins, representing her father, explained: “We have also thought a lot of him and we were very disappointed after Leopardstown. But he came home a sick horse.
“We know he is smart and he should go on to better things, he has so much speed that we’ll keep him to six furlongs for the moment, but I’m not sure where he’ll run next.”
The well touted Lightening Hit started a strong favourite for the Orpen 2-y-o Maiden but, having looked a likely winner, could not cope with the Kevin Prendergast trained fellow newcomer, Rekaab, ridden by stable apprentice, Christy Geoghegan.
Prendergast said of the In The Wings colt: “He’s a nice, backward colt. He spent most of last year in Dubai and came to us late but he has done well since he arrived and is very laid back. You’ll see more of him.”
Aidan O’Brien was not present to see the listed-place filly, Queen Titi, gain an over due win in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden. Carrying the colours of O’Brien’s wife, Annmarie, the odds-on favourite asserted her authority approaching the furlong pole, coming away to triumph by an ever increasing six length margin.
Veteran trainer, Pat Lally, a native of Co. Mayo, ended a long lean spell when The Tinker Murray captured the Thoroughbred County Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Gareth Cotter, prevailing narrowly in a blanket finish.
The Tinker Murray has the potential to make a smart staying chaser and Lally was uncertain exactly how long it has been since he last visited the winner's enclosure.
He did however, remember fondly his biggest training success, back in 1973 when his 100/1 shot Miss Therese won the Blandford Stakes at the Curragh.
In the other National Hunt action, claimer Nicky O’Shea made all the running on Due Respect to win the Order of Malta Sticky Plaster Day Handicap Hurdle for his boss, Dessie Hughes, in a race which saw Andrew Leigh pick up a four-day ban for excessive use of the whip on board On The Warpath.
Nina Carbery who enjoyed such a tremendous festival at Galway, notched her 42nd career success when winning the bumper on favourite, The Loony Bishop, trained by Tom Nagle for a Welsh-based syndicate.
And it was a day to remember for Co. Kildare born, Katie McManmon (18) who tasted racecourse success for the first time on the Sean Treacy trained, Soranna in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Earlier, one of the most promising apprentices around Emmet Butterly (16) brought his tally to four when winning the Naas Maiden on Xaarinshki, trained by Ger Lyons for her owner-breeder Christine Kiernan.
