Ballydoyle lesser-lights on the scoresheet
Blinkered for the first time, Emperor Hadrian, from the first crop of Holy Roman Emperor and having his fourth start, came through strongly inside the final furlong to master Mr Man in The Moon by two lengths in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Murtagh commented: “He travelled well in the blinkers and did it nicely in the end. It’s good to win with him.”
The Ballydoyle double was completed when uneasy favourite Ferdinand Magellan, unplaced in his two previous outings, made virtually all and fought doggedly to keep debutant Master Performer at bay in the ten-furlong Peter O’Brien Landscapes Maiden.
A son of Montjeu, Ferdinand Magellan won in the style of a colt that will stay further, as Murtagh suggested: “He’s still a bit green, but kept going well when Pat’s horse came at him. I don’t think he’d have a problem with a mile and a half.”
Murtagh looked certain to complete a hat-trick when his driving of the Joanna Morgan-trained Livaleo saw the Galileo gelding get the better of Time Travel inside the final furlong of the Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap.
But the champion’s bid was thwarted by well-backed, Jim Bolger-trained favourite Mianach (3/1 to 2/1) which came from well off the pace and swooped late under Kevin Manning to triumph by a length, following-up a recent win at Wexford.
The concluding Lynn Lodge Stud Race attracted only four runners but produced a fascinating tactical affair, with Keagan Latham producing 13/8 favourite Buy Back Bob between horses to lead inside the final furlong and beat Mister Carter by a length before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
Buy Back Bob is trained by Ger Lyons, whose brother and assistant Shane commented: “Keagan planned to ride him just like that, to be cool and to fill him with confidence.It worked out to the letter.
“He’s a lovely horse, still a big, unfurnished baby, but a horse with a future, in both codes.
“I’m not sure what Ger has in mind for him. But he should continue improving through the season.”
Wayne Lordan was seen to good effect when bringing Collingwood, trained by Ted Walsh for his wife Helen, from well off the pace to snatch the spoils late in the six-furlong Meath Hunt At Navan Racecourse Handicap.
Calm Bay (Daryl Byrne) looked an assured winner as they began the uphill climb with over a furlong to race. But Pat Shanahan rallied early leader Lough Mist to tackle the leader close home.
And, just as Tracey Collins’ hat-trick-seeker put her nose in front in the dying strides, Collingwood arrived on the outside to get up on the line, prompting trainer Walsh to comment: “He’s been balloted out a few times, but ran well at the Curragh last time. It’s great to win a pot like this with him. Fair play to Wayne – he said that, once they started up the hill, he always thought he’d get there. It didn’t look that way from where I was. But he won!”
Meanwhile Don’t Be Bitin’ ended a long losing sequence when defying the welter burden of 12-7 in the Slaney Handicap Chase at Wexford last night.
Trained by Colm Murphy and ridden by 7lb. claimer Mikey Fogarty, the nine-year-old was recording his first success since scoring at Punchestown in February 2008 and was undoubtedly helped by the last fence fall of the challenging Mahrajaan (Davy Condon), which looked the likely winner.
Don’t Be Bitin’ was left clear to beat Dreamy Gent by eight lengths. A delighted Colm Murphy said: “Carrying 12-7 is always a tall order but Mikey gave him a super ride. He’s been running well and deserved a change of luck.
“I’m not sure where he’ll go now. But there’s a conditions race in Tipperary next week which might fit the bill.”
Fogarty’s enterprising move, kicking for home on the home-turn, on Luna Runner proved crucial in the bumper as the Definite Article mare stayed on stoutly to defeat Beat The Band by two lengths, completing a double for both the rider and trainer Murphy, also on the mark with dead-heater Aladdin’s Cave at Navan.
Driven clear on the turn, Luna Runner stayed on under strong handling.
Otterstown Lady, trained by Cathy O’Leary and confidently ridden by Shane Hassett, ran out a smooth winner of the Poolcourt Ltd. Novice Hurdle.
