Murtagh has to settle for a double
The former champion brought top-weight Royal Entourage (7/4 favourite) with a strong late surge to nail Daytime Dreamer on the line in the Generali Ireland Handicap on a night when he was also beaten on 4/9 shot Pirate Ship in the Brubaker’s Bar Race.
Royal Entourage, which was opening his account, survived some scrimmaging in the straight before being produced late. Winning trainer Ger Lyons said: “He blew his chance at the start here the last day. I was worried about the trip tonight, but he stayed well. He’ll come back here but, after this, we’ll run him on turf too.”
Murtagh completed his double when Glowing, trained by Charles O’Brien for Mrs Sue Magnier, justified 4/9 favouritism in the finale, the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Race.
Confidently handled by Murtagh, she travelled well and came through to lead with more than a furlong to race before being driven out to beat Rose Hip. It was the 84-rated filly’s second success and she’s now likely to return to listed company.
No joy for Murtagh on hot-pot Pirate Ship in the four-runner Brubaker’s Bar Race, in which reigning champion Pat Smullen expertly dictated the pace on course and distance winner Signal Fire, trained by Dermot Weld for Khalid Abdulla.
Signal Fire made all and, as Murtagh looked for room to challenge on the favourite, Smullen asserted, running on well to beat the disappointing market leader by a length and quarter.
Smullen explained: “We thought he was good horse when he won his maiden here. But everything went wrong the last day. It was very wet and windy and he got excited and buzzed-up before the race. The trip was a bridge too far for him too. He was much happier tonight and won well.”
Jim Bolger brought his tally for the new season to thirteen when Coolcullen Times, successful over a longer trip here last week, defied a 13lb. rise in the ratings in the one-mile Cuchulainn Crystal Handicap, in which the Murtagh-ridden favourite Imco Spirit finished only third.
Hard-ridden by stable-jockey Kevin Manning (in Newbury today to ride Maoineach and Vocalised), Coolcullen Times wore down Curling Bird to continue the Coolcullen yard’s superb start to the season.
A course and distance winner two weeks ago, Otterstown Lady followed-up for trainer Cathy O’Leary in the Alva Gia Handicap.
Apprentice Shane Foley, who rode the mare last time, adopted similar tactics on this occasion, getting a perfect run through on the inside to hit the front soon after the furlong-pole and stretch clear to beat Mushtaaq by two and a half lengths.
The delighted trainer stated: “She’s an exceptional mare and won well again. She has plenty of toe, although she’d be even better over further. Shane gave her a great ride again. We’ll probably try to win a decent handicap with her on the flat and she should win a couple over hurdles as well.”
Tommy Stack registered his fifth success of the season and Wayne Lordan his seventh when 2/1 favourite Royal Infidelity put his experience to good use in the opening two-year-old maiden.
The Royal Applause gelding, owned by the trainer’s son and assistant Fozzy, bounced smartly from the stalls and made all to beat promising debutant Baglioni.
Earlier, trainer Paul Deegan admitted that Shes Dman’s success under 7lb. claimer Kieran O’Neill, in the Cuchulainn Crystal Handicap was “a hell of a surprise”.
Deegan, who also saddled 4/1 favourite Native Dame in the race, added: “She was on her last chance tonight and the first-time blinkers must have made the difference. Kieran gave her a good ride and is good value for his claim. He’s ridden ten winners, six of them in America last year.”
Apprentice Ronan Keogh, who rode Lady Luck to finish third before being disqualified, was suspended for six days for careless riding.
