In-form Weld and Smullen on the mark again with Firebird
Down in class, following her third in a Group Three at Naas previously, the daughter of Sadler's Wells was backed from some 4-5 to 4-9. Always travelling nicely, she quickened clear from the furlong pole to beat front-running Sogno Verde a comfortable two and a half lengths.
“We put the blinkers on to make sure”, reported Smullen. “She's not ungenuine, but just lacks concentration.”
Bookmakers got a screamer in the Slievenamon Beginners Chase with victory going to 25-1 shot Tareis An Phunt.
Well-supported favourite Stick The Lowman jumped brilliantly and looked all over a winner between the last two fences.
But Sean McDermott conjured a terrific late burst from Tareis An phunt to grab the market-leader in the dying strides.
Gamble of the contest was Charles Byrnes' Alota Baby, taken from 7-1 to 3-1. She was tracking the leaders when erring five from home and, though holding every chance heading to the second last, was soon struggling.
Incidental, absent since March, got the best of a tight tussle with Yabbits in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle. The pair edged on coming away from the penultimate flight, with Barry Geraghty driving his charge out for a neck victory on the run in.
“He's been waiting for good ground, that's why he hasn't run for a while”, said trainer, Jessica Harrington. “We will keep going with him and try and win another hurdle, before he heads for fences.”
Boston Pilot, with three moderate efforts on bad ground in maidens under his belt, got off the mark in the Cahir Handicap.
Jim Bolger's gelding was produced late by Kevin Manning to beat The Last Stand, in front under two furlongs down, to score by a short head.
Bolger and Manning completed just over a 40-1 double when Twilight Breeze took the Knockmealdown Handicap. It was a similar story from Manning, swooping close home to beat the flattering Like A Dream a cosy length and a half.
The Bumper saw Francis Flood's Mr Aussie and Gerry Keane's Blayney James flash across the line locked together. The judge failed to separate them. Tony Mullins' Quillan Hill went off a strong favourite. He flattered when touching the front early in the straight, but was soon back-pedalling.
The Powerstown Handicap Hurdle was a poor contest, but Lemon Cello did the business well enough. Trained by Seamus Fahey and partnered by John Sullivan, the Accordion mare (an unconsidered 20-1 shot) would have scored more easily but for being awkward at the last.
