Front–running tactics work a treat on Mill House Girl
Said Donohoe: “She can be very free and I wasn't sure what to do. I spoke to Charlie and he felt it is often best to let them make the running when they are like that. You couldn't buy that fellow's brain.”
Andrew McNamara carried out the instructions to perfection, setting a decent gallop on the sweet-jumping mare.
Telemachus tried his case in the straight, but the winner never showed any signs of flinching and was a comfortable two and a half lengths to the good at the line.
“Andrew gave her a peach of a ride, he was brilliant”, said Donohoe. “She will probably go for a mile and six flat race at Listowel next week.”
Reported McNamara: “She loved being out in front, but felt in better form in general today.”
Daramas proved a very strong favourite in the O'Dwyer Steel Maiden Hurdle and landed the wagers.
Salt Lake looked sure to score when cruising to the front coming away from the second last, but found little or nothing after the final flight.
Daramas, always prominent, hit back and stayed on well for Colman Sweeney to beat Frenchfurze Lad.
Colman's father, Rodger, trains Daramas, and said: “He's a nice little horse. I will have a look at an amateur hurdle at Listowel and, if the ground is right, he might go there.”
David Wachman's You're Beautiful, who looked a sure-fire winner after her debut at Leopardstown, but then ran no race next time at the Curragh, was much too good for her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms' Maiden for fillies.
“She's a ncie filly, she lost her life in the stalls at the Curragh”, reported Wachman. Wayne Lordan got a dream run up the inside through the last two furlongs and the daughter of Storm Cat lengthened clear in style.
“A stakes race will be next, but she wouldn't want the ground too soft”, said Wachman.
Aidan O'Brien's Abide With Me, taken at 8-11 in the morning and a strong order through the day, justified final odds of 1-3 in the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Maiden.
Kieran Fallon had him in front after little more than a furlong and the son of Danehill scored with plenty in hand, despite a marked tendency to drift towards the stands in the straight.
Sean Levey, who is attached to Ballydoyle, rode his fourth winner aboard Paris Sue in the Tipperary Raceccourse 90th Birthday Handicap.
The daughter of Pivotal made virtually all in this five furlongs sprint and was in little danger from the furlong pole.
He is trained at Dunleer, Co Louth by Marcus Callaghan. He has just two horses in his care and this was his eighth success.
Peter Kiely, who trains at Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, saddled his second winner, the first came on this track as well, when South Upper Street got the best of a desperate last furlong tussle with Humber Valley in the Bumper.
It was a 50th success for rider, Anika Kallse, who comes from Sweden. “He's a difficult ride and she did a super, super job”, said Kiely.
Jockey Niall McCullagh and trainer John Hayden, who haven't had the best of campaigns, were out of luck when Daring Spirit was first past the post in the Abbey India Project Nursery, but lost the race in the stewards' room.
Daring Spirit clearly took the ground of runner-up, Giftware, with over a furlong to go and with only a neck between them at the line, it was almost inevitable there would be a change of result. Giftware was ridden by Fran Berry for Tom Hogan, who has his charges in fine shape right now.
