Aklan maintains Oxx’s fine record
Oxx’s Handazan (Niall McCullagh) set the pace, despite struggling to act on the tight track, before being passed by the Ben Curtis-ridden winner with two furlongs to race. Dangers loomed large.
But Aklan, wearing a tongue-tie for the first time, was holding on bravely before Johnny Murtagh extricated 9/4 favourite Massiyn from traffic problems.
And, finishing strongly, Massiyn failed narrowly to peg back the Oxx-trained Dalakhani colt, which had been beaten twice since making a successful debut at the Curragh. Eternal Bouny finished a head away third, with Sense Of Purpose another neck back in fourth.
Frustration for champion-jockey Murtagh who chose the runner-up from three Aga Khan-owned runners !
Oxx said: “He handles the ground and stays well. He was probably in front a bit soon and wandered about a bit. But he’s a decent stayer and will probably go for the Challenge Stakes in Leopardstown later in the month.”
Having his third run, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Count Of Limonade gave his sire, Duke Of Marmalade, his first winner when making all to beat odds-on favourite Daymooma emphatically in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Ridden by Joseph O’Brien, the 11/8 shot dictated the pace and responded to his rider’s driving when tackled in the last two furlongs, staying on stoutly to beat the 8/11 favourite by three and quarter lengths.
The winning rider commented: “It’s very soft out there and he would prefer better ground. So we kept it uncomplicated. It was his first time on a track like this and he was very green in front. I think he’s Duke Of Marmalade’s first winner and, like his dad, he’s a very genuine horse. And we have a few more of them at home.”
Similar front-running tactics paid dividends for the Andy Oliver-trained Hard Yards in the two-year-old auction maiden as the Chris Hayes-ridden son of Moss Vale defeated debutant Elleval by three and a half lengths.
Off the track since the 2010 Punchestown Festival, where she made a winning start for Willie Mullins, French import Tarla justified hefty support (backed from 9/10 to 4/7) in the Property Partners Earley Auctioneers Maiden.
Ridden by Pat Smullen and in front from halfway, the six-year-old mare was in command with two furlongs to race and ran on well to beat An Spailpin Fanach by four and a half lengths.
Smullen confirmed: “I hoped to get a lead. But she was very fresh after such a long break. So I let her stride on. I thought she’d win, if she was fit enough. She handled the conditions well and won well.”
Mullins and Smullen completed a double for the Riccis when favourite Call Me Bubbles overcame a horrible run up the straight before finishing strongly to nail the Joseph O’Brien-ridden Beach Of Falesa on the line in the concluding Roscommon Handicap.
The runner-up looked an assured winner when she quickened into the lead with a furlong and a half to race as Smullen, boxed-in, sought an opening. Once in the clear, however, the French-bred grey finished strongly and got up to triumph by a short-head.
The winning rider said: “He was travelling well turning in. But we ran into the back of everything up the straight and I just couldn’t get out. In fairness to the horse, he found plenty when he saw daylight and did well to win. He should make a nice hurdler!”
In the earlier handicap action, the Harry Rogers-trained mare Cheval Rouge, having her third run in nine days and beaten a neck by Boom To Bust at Bellewstown on Sunday, enjoyed a deserved change of luck when swooping late under apprentice Sam James to land the seven-furling fillies handicap at the expense of Gra Geal Mo Chroi and Roamininthegloamin.
And Theyturnedmedown, successful over course and distance last month before disappointing in Sligo, bounced back to winning form in the Supervalu Roscommon Handicap, keeping Curl Cat ay bay under in-form apprentice Leigh Roche.
Rory Cleary, rider of the runner-up, was banned for one raceday for using his whip with excessive frequency.
