Aggie’s Lad gives Martin tonic victory
Martin has endured a terrible time of late. At Cheltenham two of his best horses were killed, Drumconvis and Clarified, and here on Sunday he lost Robin Du Bois.
“I couldn’t be happier with this fellow, I was just so afraid something would happen,” exclaimed Martin.
The Gloves Are Off set a strong gallop, but Aggie’s Lad, in truth, was always only going at half speed in behind.
Robert Power eased the winner to the front going to three out and Aggie’s Lad steadily drew clear to score by a distance.
The Donal Coffey-trained Printing Copper ran away with the Irish Stalllion Farms’ EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Partnered by Donal MacAuley, she eased ahead coming away from the fourth last and stretched right away up the straight to score unextended by eight lengths, having been taken from some 11-1 to 8’s.
“I knew she would act on good ground, but thought it might have gone too firm for her,” reported Coffey.
Michael Hourigan’s son, Michael P, enjoyed a welcome turn when Tom Doyle guided Frosty Night to victory in the Dan Linehan’s Bar Irish Racing Pub Of The Year 2008 Handicap Chase.
Tom Doyle got a real tune from the hitherto disappointing five-year-old, driving him past the flattering Dream Champion on the run in.
Said Hourigan: “The ground (soft) has been a nightmare for this horse. Swimming and the change in ground are the key to him.”
A change of tactics worked for Tommy Stack’s Wanna in the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Fillies Maiden.
She made a lot of the running when third at Gowran Park previously, but Wayne Lordan was in no hurry here.
He did, however, produce her with impeccable timing to lead inside the furlong pole to beat Spinning Wings, who made up a lot of ground late.
Fozzy Stack represented his father and said: “She was left in front at Gowran and didn’t do a stroke. She wouldn’t want the ground like concrete and might have an enforced absence now!”
Time ’N Talent, 12th of 18 on his only outing at the Curragh, landed the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden for James Leavy. Fran Berry had the ride and the son of Act One made all the running to beat La Tizona by three parts of a length.
The Tommy Stack-trained Light Sticker proved a very uneasy favourite and never promised to deliver.
Berry completed a 169-1 double aboard Lady Excel in the Cahernane House Hotel Handicap.
Lady Excel gave Athenry, Co Galway trainer Pauline Gavin her first ever success on the flat.
Berry swept her through to lead inside the furlong pole to beat the fast-finishing Chibcha a snug half a length.
Colm O’Donoghue drove Premier Rouge to a clear-cut victory in the O’Keeffe, O’Shea, O’Connor Solicitors’ Handicap.
Trained by David Marnane, the eight-year-old got to the front at the furlong pole and had no trouble holding Bawnrush.
