Washington DC and King Of Aragon among seven successful favourites
Narrowly beaten on his debut in Dundalk last Friday, Washington DC, a first winner for his sire Zoffany, oozed class as he coasted to an effortless win over Nice And Dandy in the five-furlong Irish Stallion farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Joseph never moved a muscle on the 4/9 favourite, cruising past the runner-up with a furlong and a half to race before scoring, hard held, by two and three-quarter lengths.
“He’s a fast horse and Dundalk is great to teach them first time,” commented Aidan O’Brien. “He’s a sharp type and travelled very strong.”
O’Brien suggested King Of Aragon will step into stakes company following his 2/5 win in the Fundraising Events At Tipperary Maiden over a mile and a half. In front after a furlong, the Montjeu colt dictated the pace and won readily, by two and a quarter lengths, from debutant Jaleo.
“He came forward from Gowran, handled the ground and did it nicely,” stated O’Brien, “He has a bit of class.”
Eight-year-old mare Sassaway, trained locally by Eamonn O’Connell, registered her fifth career success, and her first since August 13, when justifying 2/1 favouritism in the five-furlong Book Online At Tipperaryraces.ie Handicap. Having tracked front-runner Little Sweetheart, Declan McDonogh asserted before the furlong-pole to record a length and a quarter win over Hi Empress.
The Ger Lyons-trainedUnrequited ran out a convincing winner of the Join The Tipperary Races Supporters Club Handicap.
Leigh Roche’s first ride for Lyons and also a first winner of the season for the Galway man, Unrequited quickened well to beat long absent top-weight Mandatario by two and a quarter lengths.
Mark Walsh’s successful return to action on board the Michael Winters-trained Bitsandpieces in the three-mile maiden hurdle proved the highlight of the hurdle action.
Walsh had been sidelined with ankle and arm injuries since the end of February and had to drive the 13/8 favourite on the run-in to hold the late flourish of Davids Jewel by three-quarters of a length.
“He went backwards after running well in Thurles and it’s only in the last fortnight that he started to light up,” said Winters.
Bryan Cooper enjoyed a timely, pre-Punchestown boost when Disputed, owned by Gigginstown House Stud and having his first run for his new stable, justified 4/1 favouritism in the Follow Tipperaryraces On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.
The five-year-old, Cooper’s first winner since St Patrick’s Day, was completing an across-the-card double for Gordon Elliott, successful with Skilled in Perth.
Well-backed all day, 5/4 favourite Mr Picotee landed the two-mile maiden hurdle under Philip Enright.
Having travelled well throughout, he had to battle to see off Three Stars by a half-length after the runner-up lost valuable ground by drifting left on the run-in.
Enright’s evening turned sour in the concluding three mile maiden hurdle when his mount Redwood Castle, a stable-companion of the winner Bitsandpieces, fell at the fourth last flight.
Enright was removed to the University Hospital in Limerick with a suspected broken leg.
