Treble puts Smullen three clear
The Offaly man triumphed on Sense Of Purpose, Ransomed Bride and Galileo’s Choice, all for his boss Dermot Weld, before Murtagh won the finale on Aidan O’Brien’s Crimson Sky, leaving Smullen 78-75 ahead in the title-race.
Short-headed in a listed race at the Curragh last time, Sense Of Purpose, backed from 2/1 to 6/5, opened her account in the Kilcarn 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden, getting up close home to beat Tashzara.
But the Galileo filly needed all of Smullen’s strength to get home, before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
Dermot Weld, attending the Newmarket Sales, was represented by his son Kris who commented: “She’s bred to stay and had to work hard. But she always looked like getting there. She’s stakes-placed already and, if she runs again this season, it’ll probably be in the Eyrefield Stakes (a listed event over nine furlongs) at Leopardstown.”
Smullen was on the mark again when Ransomed Bride, disappointing on her handicap debut at Leopardstown after a maiden success at Dundalk, fought tenaciously to overcome Gleaming Silver in the Meath Handicap.
Weld Jnr said: “She’s a big, honest mare and stays going. I knew when she got to the front that she’d be tough to pass. She’ll go for another similar handicap and might go back to Dundalk, where she won her maiden.”
The ten-furlong Newgrange Race produced a tremendous tussle between market-rivals Chief Lone Eagle (Murtagh) and Galileo’s Choice (Smullen), the pair dominating the closing stages and racing wide apart.
Victory went to Galileo’s Choice, brought wide by Smullen to race in the middle of the track while Murtagh kept the 4/6 favourite on the far rail.
Smullen said afterwards: “He battled away well and I decided that I’d rather be out there on my own, than be over there helping him.”
Kris Weld said: “He’s always been a lovely horse, but has taken time to fill into himself. He should keep improving and we might try to get some black type for him.”
Crimson Sky, well-regarded in Ballydoyle in the spring but off the track since making his debut on this track back in April, landed a substantial on-track gamble (7/2 to 6/4) in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms Maiden, a welcome tonic for Murtagh after a frustrating day.
Murtagh said: “He’s a big, good-looking horse by Montjeu and Aidan has always liked him a lot. But, unfortunately, he’s had his share of problems. He won well today and should improve plenty.”
The Ger Lyons-trained Bogie, last behind Chabal on his debut at Leopardstown, produced a dramatically improved display to land the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in the hands of champion apprentice Emmet McNamara, getting the better of the John Oxx-trained Akinndi.
“He’s a gorgeous horse and I brought him to Leopardstown on the big day (Irish Champion Stakes day) for that reason,” explained Lyons. “But he went ballistic at the start and ran no sort of race. He never showed anything like that before or since. It was totally out of character. I sent Andy Duff to the start with him today and he was fine.”
Lyons added: “It’s my first winner for the Dunnes and I’ll probably put him away, but he’s definitely a horse to look forward to next year.”
It was a day to remember for apprentice Tim Carroll, younger brother of champion apprentice elect Gary, who rode his first winner, Donnas Palm in the October Maiden.
Carroll (18) brought the Noel Meade-trained grey from well off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and beat Lucky At Last snugly by three-quarters of a length, prompting his boss Meade to comment: “Tim rides well and is a genuinely good lad. I’m delighted for him. He’s not the lightest, but he’s very good over jumps. He’s done plenty of schooling over hurdles and fences. He’s a kid with a future.”
Commenting on plans for Donnas Palm, Meade added: “His form last season was mixed and I might have run back too soon a couple of times. He’s probably best fresh but, having said that, he might go to Punchestown next week. There’s a suitable race there for second season novices.”
Earlier, Carroll found himself in trouble with the Stewards, following his handling of third-placed Lovestoned, trained by Tom Hogan, in the opening apprentice handicap. He was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and in the forehand position and suspended for two days.
Also in hot water, after the same race, was Gina Morgan, rider of well-backed Sean Og Coulston, which trailed the field throughout. She was banned for seven days for making insufficient effort.
Victory in this event went to the Peter Casey-trained Dotada, an eighth winner for Joseph O’Brien, which scampered clear up the hill to win by five and a half lengths.
