Mountain sparkles in Diamond Stakes

Third in the Dubai World Cup last March, the Charlie Appleby-trained Cat O’Mountain, in the familiar Goldolphin blue, landed the Group 3 Diamond Stakes in Dundalk last night.

The 2/1 favourite mastered Prince Of All inside the final furlong and, despite idling, had a half-length to spare at the line.

Winning rider Fran Berry explained: “Even after Prince Of All kicked on, I always thought we’d win, although my horse pricked his ears when he hit the front. He had a good bit in the tank. This race fitted nicely into his programme — he’s heading back to Dubai for the winter.”

The rest of the night belonged to champion apprentice elect Colin Keane, who recorded his second treble of the week, at odds of more than 54/1.

Beau Satchel, taking advantage of his 8lb. lower polytrack mark, defied top-weight in the apprentice handicap, sparking the Keane treble.

He followed-up on Tom McCourt’s My Good Brother in the six-furlong Crown Plaza Race & Star Race and rounded off another great night when 5/2 favourite Snowmame, trained by his boss Ger Lyons, bolted-up in the Christmas Party Nights Handicap, bringing Keane’s seasonal tally to 52, fourth in the Jockeys Championship table.

Michael Halford saddled first and second in the two-year-old fillies maiden, with 33/1 shot Orcia (Conor Hoban) prevailing by a length over Maira (Pat Smullen) despite drifting left. She survived a Stewards Enquiry but both riders were banned for careless riding, Hoban being suspended for five days and Smullen for two days.

Earlier, in Gowran Park, the Colin Bowe-trained Little King Robin registered her sixth success over hurdles when producing another powerful front-running performance to land the Join Us Tomorrow For Racing Mares Hurdle by no less than fifteen lengths from Clara McCloud with favourite Jennies Jewel in third. Bowe said: “That was probably her best run to date,” before nominating the listed Grabel Mares Hurdle (at Punchestown on October 16) as his charge’s next assignment.

Little King Robin was the second leg of a double for her regular partner Mark Walsh, who had an armchair ride on 2/5 shot Henry Higgins in the opening Park Gigs 4-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.