Bolger maintains winning formula
In a race dominated by the classic generation in recent season, including Bolger’s Bunairgead last year, Einsteins Folly came from well off the pace under a well-judged ride to triumph by a length and a half, a solid performance in his first crack at a mile and a half.
On a night which produced 24 ground-related withdrawals (ground conditions were ‘good to firm; in contrast to the ‘good to yielding’ advertised at declaration time on Sunday), eight went to post for the highlight of Roscommon’s flat season.
And Bolger’s representative, Ger Flynn, explained: “Kevin gave him a peach of a ride. It’s not often that a plan works out so well. The plan was to drop him and take his time. And he quickened very well when Kevin produced him.”
Pat Smullen displayed his tactical know-how when dictating the pace on Jack Naylor and Ashjar to complete a fine double in the maiden action.
Emma Galway, representing her trainer-mother Jessica Harrington, commented: “Pat said she’ll have no problem staying a mile,” after favourite Jack Naylor made all to win the opening two-year-old auction maiden.
And the Willie Mullins-trained Ashjar, beaten favourite at Leopardstown last time, displayed admirable battling qualities in the Property Partners Earley Auctioneers Maiden when, having made the running, he dug deep to keep Ebadani and The Plan Man at bay.
Star apprentice Colin Keane reached another notable milestone when giving trainer Pat Martin his first success of the season, on board Togpville in the Supervalu Roscommon Handicap.
The grey gelding, described by his trainer as “honest and brave” provided Keane with his 30th win of the campaign and, more significantly, his 100th career success.
Another in-form apprentice Leigh Roche notched his 18th win of he season when brining Kanes Pass with a well-timed late challenge to deny top-weight Caprella in the seven-furlong ITBA western Region Fillies Handicap. The 10/1 shot came from last to first and got up late to score by a head.
Willie McCreery, who trains the winner for her breeders Pat and Betty Cosbrove from Coill Dubj, Co Kildare, explained: “She’s an honest little filly and Leigh gave her a great ride. She’ll go to Galway for either a seven-furlong or mile handicap.”
And most impressive win of the day came in the concluding Roscommon Herald Handicap when Panama Hat, ridden by Chris Hayes for Andy Oliver, completed a hat-trick of front-running victories.
Already successful at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse (he went up 10lb, for each win) and 5lb. ‘Well-in’ under a mandatory penalty, the Medicean gelding had the race in safe keeping two furlongs from home and coasted home by four lengths from Drommore Road.
