Murtagh bags double on rare Wexford sortie
In the absence of likely danger Pittoni, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Yankee Doodle was sent off a red hot 1/7 shot (hardened on-course from 1/5) and made virtually all to land the odds.
Headed briefly in the back-straight, Yankee Doodle, which had come off second best against stable-companions Stately Home and Dixie Music in Leopardstown maidens, forged clear of Sublime Talent inside the final furlong to score by three and a half lengths.
“He deserved that after two good runs at Leopardstown,” said Murtagh. “He kept going well and there should be more improvement to come.”
Earlier, Murtagh made his move on the approach to the straight on Andy Oliver’s Anam Chara in the opening fillies maiden. And the Soviet Star filly kept going well to beat Scagliola and Silent Decision.
“I discussed things with Johnny and we agreed to keep it simple, to jump out and be handy” explained trainer Oliver. “Johnny judged it perfectly. When he went for home, I didn’t think anything would catch her, unless something sprouted wings.”
Fran Berry produced Elyaadi with a well-timed challenge to beat Hollo Ladies and front-running Bannow Rose in the two-mile Slaney Race., enough to earn a trip to Royal Ascot.
Runner-up to Daasij at Killarney last time, the Singspiel mare, trained by John Queally and carrying the familiar colours of Mick Ryan, Elyaadi came from last to first, taking over soon after the two-furlong marker before edging right and staying on stoutly to triumph by two and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Queally commented: “She has progressed well since she arrived with us and we’ve found her proper trip. We’ll give her an entry in the Ascot Stakes This win might help her to get into the race. I’m sure Mick (Ryan) will be keen to go back there.”
While Declan McDonogh will probably want to forget the Owneduff Handicap, having arrived too late on 5/4 favourite Clear Riposte to collar Just Like Ivy, it was a night to savour for winning rider Conor Hoban.
A native of Westport, Co. Mayo and apprenticed to Michael Halford, Hoban (18) sent Just Like Ivy to the front in the straight before holding the late flourish of the favourite by the minimum margin to record the first win of his career.
Just Like Ivy, which chased home End Of The Affair on a recent visit to Wexford, is trained by Paul Magnier, who commented: “She ran well here the last day and did well to hold on tonight. She was a cheap purchase and should give us a bit of fun. She’ll go for another similar handicap.”
Top-weights Slievecorragh and Shamiran were engaged in a dour battle through the closing stages of the two-mile Campile Handicap and looked certain to dominate.
But, inside the final furlong, Wayne Lordan produced 33/1 shot Zarkozy (third reserve) with a storming late surge and got up to foil Shamiran by a head.
The mares bumper produced a memorable climax, with at least six horses holding a winning chance approaching the furlong-pole.
Ultimately, locally-trained Rudi Tuesday (Colm Murphy) and Revelling (Paul Nolan) couldn’t be separated by the judge, who awarded a dead-heat.
Kevin O’Brien, who enjoyed a welcome change of luck when Fingers scored at Limerick recently, was back in the winner’s enclosure after On Borrowed Wings, running for the first time since the Christmas meeting at Leopardstown, sprang a 20/1 shock in the finale, the Owenavarragh Pro-Am Flat Race, staying on too strongly for the flattering Glam Gerry and favourite Skorcher.
