Putapriceonthat does it the hard way for in-form Lyons
Putapriceonthat came from well off the pace under South African Keagan Latham to wear down the flattering Northern Rocked in the opening www.barclaycomms.com Maiden.
Lyons commented: “He missed the kick and had to do it the hard way. But Keagan gave him a smashing ride. The plan has always been to win a maiden with him and then have a bit of fun in handicaps.”
The double was completed when Emmet McNamara partnered Rain Delayed to beat favourite Sioduil in the five-furlong www.tomtomworkireland.com Race, denying Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning a double, an hour after Maiden Moch defied top-weight in the Barclay Communications Handicap.
“This horse is probably Keagan’s favourite in the yard, but we had to claim the 5lb. off him. I have great confidence in Emmet,” commented Lyons. “He’s a tough, honest sprinter and, hopefully, he’ll keep improving. If he does, he could be listed class.”
The well-regarded Stand And Fight belatedly got off the mark, at the fifth attempt, when taking full advantage of a favourable high draw and making all to record a facile win in the five-furlong 02 Mobile Broadband 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Declan Mc Donogh bounced the Invincible Spirit gelding out of the stalls and, always in command, he stretched clear in the final furlong to slam Money Trader by five and a half lengths.
Speaking from his Curragh base, winning trainer Kevin Prendergast, whose string has hit form with a vengeance in the last week, stated: “He’s as good a two-year-old as I’ve had in a while. He deserved a change of luck. We might think about having a crack at the ‘Norfolk’ at Ryal Ascot now.”
David Marnane continued his tremendous run when Kaplinskly followed-up a recent win at Naas, in the Barclay Comunications IT Services Handicap, finishing strongly under apprentice Gary Carroll to foil Scopey close home.
“She would have been an unlucky loser,” declared Marnane. “She’s improving and won well. Gary had to sit and suffer when he was boxed in. But she piked up well when she saw daylight.”
In the jumps action, Robbie Dunne doubled-up, on Val Donoghue’s Pengana in the O2 Centre Of Excellence Opportunity Maiden Hurdle, and the Aidan Howard-trained favourite Mark Rusty in the Nokia Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Meanwhile, at Tramore, Davy Condon notched his first win since returning home from his one-year stint with Nicky Richards in England, partnering the Tony Mullins-trained Two Left Boots to a smooth success in the Dunhill Handicap Hurdle.
Winning trainer Mullins paid tribute to the help received from Dungarvan-based horse dentist Tom Fleming with this Frank Doyle-owned five-year-old, “This horse has always shown plenty of ability, but he went off the wall a bit. We had to do something about it. Tom Fleming did a good job on him. A lot will depend on what the handicapper does to him. But he could be a nice horse for Galway.”
Earlier, Davy Russell gave the Philip Rothwell-trained Gerbera a confidence-boosting ride to land the August Festival Maiden Hurdle easily from fellow joint-favourite Salesin. The winner had fallen in two of his three previous outings under rules, but looks a good prospect.
Russell made a bold bid to complete a double on the Paul Nolan-trained Warhead in the Carraigavantry Maiden Hurdle, but was foiled by Willie Murphy’s grey Thelobstercatcher which came from well off the pace under in-form Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden to lead at the final flight before forging clear for an emphatic win.
Murphy, successful with Vinnie at Tipperary on Tuesday, commented: “This horse was sick during the winter. But we’ve always liked him. He needs further than this sharp two and a half miles and should make a nice staying chaser.”
