Murtagh bridges 10-year gap on Adiynara
Always close to the pace, despite a wide draw, in the nine-furlong event, Adiynara responded bravely to Murtagh’s urgings to hold off the persistent challenge of 5/4 favourite Jouster by a neck.
Adiynara is trained by Michael Halford, who commented: “She’s rated 73 and was due a turn. She was helped by the cheekpieces and a god ride from Johnny. She did it well from a wide draw and battled well when the favourite came at her. It’s nice to get a bracket with her and, now that she got her in front, she could go on from here.”
Successful with Anaverna last year, Dermot Weld captured the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Race again with Malayan Mist, which defied a significant drift in the market (8/13 — 5/6) to beat well-backed Deire Na Sli (5/2 — 7/4) by a length.
Having tracked Crystal Belle, the Pat Smullen-ridden winner edged ahead early in the final furlong, getting ‘first run’ on the Kevin Manning-ridden runner-up.
James Kelly, representing winning owner Lady O’Reilly, explained: “Pat said she didn’t like the track and that she needs a mile and a half. She’s a talented but extremely lazy filly and should continue to progress.
“She’ll probably have two more runs this season and should develop into a high-class filly next year. She could develop into another Chinese White. Dermot has entered her for the Noblesse Stakes (Group 3) at Cork next month and she’s in the Irish Oaks. But we’ll be taking a softly, softly approach with her this season.”
In the other flat action, Emmet McNamara registered his first win for his new boss Gordon Elliot when Bondage won the opening F.B.D. Insurance Handicap convincingly from Lucky Spring.
The winner, a dual-winner at Leicester when trained by James Fanshawe, took command on the home-turn and stayed on stoutly to win by four lengths.
“He was entitled to win on his English form,” said Aidan O’Ryan, representing the absent trainer. “It’s great for Emmet, he’s been working for Gordon for a couple of months. With a bit of luck, this horse will win another.”
The Jessica Harrington-trained Magical Memoir, under a positive ride by Barry Geraghty, proved four lengths too strong for market rival Scottish Boogie in the Tipperary Water Hurdle.
Having tracked the leaders, Geraghty made his move at the second last and had the runner-up in trouble well before the straight before scoring emphatically in the colours of Des Donegan.
“She’s game and wants two and a half miles,” stated Geraghty afterwards. “She’s tough and wings hurdles so there was not point in hanging around on her.”
Favourite-backers were on the mark again in the Supermacs Ballinrobe & Claremorris Handicap Hurdle when the Tony Martin-trained Uncle Taffy defied a 6lb. mandatory penalty incurred at Cork on Friday night.
Produced by Ruby Walsh to lead at the final flight, Uncle Taffy syayed on well to beat Rassi Maguire by two lengths, prompting Martin to comment: “I was a little worried that it might come a bit quick. He’s a bit light, but pulled it out when Ruby asked him. He couldn’t have done it any better. I suppose he’s entitled to a three or four week break after winning two in four days.
“I’m delighted for the lads that own him (the Plenty Of Spock Syndicate) — they’re a good bunch, from Dunboyne.”
A winner on the flat on the track back in July 2009, 116-rated Loch Long belatedly opened his account over hurdles when scoring a facile win in the Mulholland Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle, at the expense of favourite Glenstar.
Loch Long, which is trained by Tracey Collins, stretched clear after the second to score convincingly by four and a half lengths in the hands of Alan Crowe, who said: “He deserved to win one and did his job well. He won over two miles on the flat, so I had no worries about the trip (two and half miles). It was a help that we got a lead for so long and, with a bit of luck, Tracey will find a suitable ‘winners of one’ for him during the summer.”
