Aaroness looks destined for better things
Although Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning had the Epsom hopes of Lush Lashes and New Approach as their top priority this week, they must have delighted by the impressive victory of odds-on favourite Aaroness in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Having dictated the pace, the Distorted Humor filly quickened clear in the straight and ran on strongly to slam Glusten by five lengths, surely the performance of a Group-class filly.
Manning expressed himself “delighted” by the performance but, in the absence of the winning trainer, no firm future plans emerged.
David Wachman introduced an exciting Danetime colt Bushranger to land the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Race, the second leg of a double for the trainer and stable-jockey Wayne Lordan.
Having tracked the leaders, Bushranger was produced to challenge front-running Nubar Lady through the final furlong and had to be firmly ridden to land the spoils by a neck.
“He did it well when the penny dropped,” said Wachman, “He has been showing plenty at home and should have learned a good bit today. He’ll step-up in class now. But I’m not sure where he’ll be going.”
Lordan, now on the 23-winner mark for the season, had earlier edged Cat On The Tale home a short-head winner from well-touted newcomer Luminaire in the Tallis & Co. Construction Maiden.
Wachman explained: “She took a long time to acclimatise when she arrived from America and we could run her only once last season. But she’s quite a nice filly, stays well and should improve from this experience.”
Joanna Morgan, enjoying a tremendous run of success, struck again when the Davy Moran-ridden Danetime Lily got the better of Copper Dock at the business end of the five-furlong Tipperary Festival Handicap.
The chase action produced more than its share of drama, including a false start, horses left at the start, plenty of fallers, both at fences and on the level, and even a horse crashing out through the wing at the final fence.
Victory in the John Harney Bookmaker Handicap Chase went to former hunter-chaser Artist’s Return, owned and trained by James Cousins and strongly ridden by Sean Flanagan to foil the Philip Carberry-ridden favourite Bio Boy.
Let Him Off, trained by Paul Nolan for Jim Mernagh and described by his trainer as “a very good young horse” when he won his point-to-point before encountering a success of problems, made virtually all to win the first division of the Xpress Stop Beginners Chase, the second division going to 25/1 shot Crock Crildrom, a first winner for Mark Bolger since having his claim reduced to 5lb.
