Inxile at home in Tipperary
Already successful at Naas and Cork (twice) this season, the six-year-old bounced smartly from the stalls and showed good speed throughout, racing along the far rail to beat compatriot Move In Time by two lengths with last year’s winner Invincible Ash third.
In typically ebullient form, Dandy Nicholls quipped: “The hardest part was pulling him up,” before explaining: “He’s a tough character, like his trainer and jockey. He’s been on the go since Dubai in January and has been in great form. But he was a bit stale at the Curragh the last day, so we gave him a break, to freshen him up.”
Nicholls added: “He can be a bit of a prat in the stalls — we try to have him put in last, but it’s not always possible. He’s a pretty difficult ride, so credit to his jockey.
“All credit to Tipperary. This was a proper race, and a very tough one. It should leave him right for the Nunthorpe at York and he’ll probably go for the Prix de l’Abbaye too. I’m not saying he’ll win either, but he’s entitled to take his chance in them.”
The Eddie Lynam trained Sole Power, fifth in this event last year before springing a 100/1 shock in the Group 1 Nunthorpe, again filled fifth spot (beaten three lengths) in his final outing before bidding for a repeat win in the famous York sprint later this month.
Curragh trainer Ken Condon is enjoying a tremendous season and his Straits Of Zanzibar lost his maiden tag in style when landing the listed Coolmore Hurricane Run 2-Y-0 Stakes, beating Battle Of Saratoga and East Meets West, the two Ballydoyle representatives in the absence of morning favourite Furner’s Green.
Ridden by Shane Foley, Straits Of Zanzibar swooped inside the final furlong to triumph by three-quarters of a length. A delighted Condon said: “We’ve always had plenty of faith in this horse. We just had to wait for suitable ground so were quite hopeful today, on his preferred surface.
“He’s improving and, although he keeps a bit for himself and makes things look difficult, he has plenty of ability. In fact, a horse like this doesn’t come along very often for a trainer like me.
“He’ll probably fulfil his engagement in either the Futurity or the National Stakes and we also have the option of travelling abroad with him.”
The Jim Bolger-trained An Ghalanta, runner-up in four of her five previous starts, got off the mark when justifying even money favouritism in the opening Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf Centre 2-Y-0 Maiden over five furlongs.
Making virtually all up the centre of the course, the Holy Roman Emperor filly was pushed clear by Kevin Manning to beat Hexagonal by three and a half lengths, prompting Ger Flynn, representing the winning trainer, to comment: “She deserved that and showed plenty of pace. I’ve spoken to the boss and he hopes to find a suitable stakes race for her now.”
Dropping back to five furlongs for the first time, Roicerad (Willie Supple) produced a similar display to An Ghalanta, availing of a high draw to land the five-furlong Dan Dooley Ford Centre Handicap at the expense of favourite The Reaper and Your Gifted.
Roicead is trained by Brendan Duke, who declared: “He’s a crackling horse and I felt he was spot-on today, a hundred per cent fit.
“He’s improving all the time and we won’t be too hard on him this season although he might go to Doncaster for the Portland Handicap on St. Leger day.”
