Rare Ransom makes all to earn shot at 1,000 Guineas
The daughter of Oasis Dream coped well with the softening ground, dictating the pace and finding plenty for Pat Smullen when tackled by favourite Celtic Dane in the last furlong and a half, staying on stoutly to win by a length, with Hard Rock City in third.
“She did it nicely and I’m pleased with her,” declared Dermot Weld. “It was a good, workmanlike performance.”
Earlier, Shaun Levey registered his first win of the season when the well-backed Lord High Admiral won the opening two-year-old maiden for Aidan O’Brien, in the colours of Michael Tabor, proving significantly superior to stable-companion and uneasy favourite Mark Twain (Seamus Heffernan), which finished only sixth.
Supported from 6/1 in the morning and a strong 5/2 shot on-course, Lord High Admiral, a son of Galileo, made virtually all and kept going for Levey to beat Bobbyscot by a neck with debutante Anaverna a close and eye-catching third.
Ger Lyons continued his fine season when French Irish belied odds of 25/1 in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms Maiden, running on strongly to beat Karkari by two and a half lengths in the style of a potentially smart colt.
Lyons explained: “He ran once for Eugene (owner Eugene McDermott) in France last year. He’s a gorgeous, handsome colt. He’ll improve from this and should stay further.”
Lyons’ apprentice Emmet McNamara was seen at his strongest when getting the Adrian McGuinness-trained Distant Piper home a narrow winner of the finale, the Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap.
The six-year-old course specialist got up close home to beat Kokoro and Patrickswell. And McGuinness said: “She loves this place - that’s her third win here. And we’ll run her again soon, probably at Sligo next week.”
Un Hinged, ridden by Fran Berry for owner-trainer John Coleman, defied a 19-month absence when landing the Gowran Park Golf Club Race Evening Handicap. The 12/1 shot was brought from last to first by Berry to master front-running Silver Tide inside the final furlong.
Paul Deegan saddled Long Wait to win the Early Bird Green Fees At Gowran Park Handicap, a first winner in the colours of his wife Kate.
The Viking Ruler gelding responded well to Willie Supple’s driving to get the better of longtime leader Proud Catch by a half-length. "
Local apprentice Conor O’Farrell brought Lady Songbird with a steady run along the far rail to foil Hujaylea in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
