Ruby at his best on Miriam’s Dream
After a titanic tussle from the final flight, Miriam’s Dream pipped Minella Reception by a head, providing Ruby with his fifth winner in three days and Martin with his third in twenty-four hours.
The winning trainer commented: “I was worried that he might blow up, after his break. I’m delighted for the lads that own him — they’re from Dublin and include Declan Arthurs, who bred the horse. He’s a grand little horse and should come on for this run.”
Later, Barry Geraghty was seen at his best when partnering Val O’Brien’s course specialist Ballygill Gale to beat the flattering Noble Pageant (Andrew McNamara) in the Roscommon Racecourse Handicap Hurdle. It was the eight-year-old’s fourth career success, and his third at Roscommon.
The bumper was dominated by the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud as the Gordon Elliott-trained Bonisland (a £125,000 purchase at the Brightweels Sale in Cheltenham last March) and Jamie Codd got the better of Thunder And Roses by a length, with favourite Couleur France third.
In the flat action, former champion Pat Smullen, who arrived back in Ireland, from Canada, at 10.30. yesterday morning, brought Tim Doyle’s eighteen-race maiden Vasoni from off the pace to land the seven-furlong €5 Admission Handicap at the expense of Lady Lyrath and flattering favourite Knights Templar.
That victory cut Joseph O’Brien’s lead in the title-race to four. But, after he was beaten on odds-on favourite Exact in the Oran Maiden, Joseph replied when bringing the Eoin Doyle-trained eight-year-old Dusty Trail with a powerful late challenge to foil Confident Cub in the Knockcroghery Handicap.
