Shanghai Star gets Linehan off mark
Linehan (16), from Mallow, was having only his fourth ride in public on the five-year-old, trained by his boss Willie Mullins, which edged out Fleeting Moment, ridden by dual Irish Derby winner Seamus Heffernan. A star of the southern pony racing circuit in recent years, having ridden forty-five winners last year, Linehan tasted racecourse action for the first time when partnering Shanghai Star at Roscommon two weeks ago.
In front a furlong from home on Shanghai Star, Linehan had to keep his mount going, and balanced, to hold the late surge of Fleeting Moment. The winning trainer was not present but has high hopes for this rising star from County Cork.
Six-year-old mare Diyla, trained in Ballinrobe by Michael Flannery, recorded her first win since October 2007 (in heavy ground here) when making virtually all the running under Fran Berry to land the opening “6th August Ladies Day At Sligo Handicap.”
A delighted Flannery said: “She always seems to run well here and won here in bad ground two years ago. This type of track suits her and Fran gave her a great ride. We’ll have fun with her through the summer and have the option of going back over hurdles.”
Successful with Lucky At Last at Down Royal at the weekend, trainer Pat Martin and Kilbeggan-based owner Paul Daly, were back in the winner’s enclosure after Irish Poli captured the incident-filled Corner House Bar Amateur Handicap Hurdle.
Cruthu Na Potoige looked set to score when left clear by the departure of three rivals, including favourite Bet Out Of It, at the third last flight. But Jamie Codd brought Irish Poli with a well-timed challenge to track the leader on the approach to the next before edging ahead going to the last and drawing clear for an emphatic win.
Martin said: “Jamie gave him a great ride, because he’s a very nervous horse and has to be minded and given plenty of daylight. He told me that he was lucky at the third last, when the favourite fell and our horse had to jump over him. It’s great to win with him and he’ll mix it over the summer.”
Conor O’Dwyer saddled Stradbally, owned by the ‘de Tree Dee’s Syndicate’ and ridden by Niki O’Shea, to win the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle after a protracted battle with runner-up Itsuptoyou.
