Shaw thing boosts O'Brien

Georgebernardshaw emerged as a possible Classic contender for Ballydoyle when successfully stepping up in class at the Curragh.

The Danehill Dancer colt will be considered for all the major 2000 Guineas and showed he was on the upgrade when bounding away from his rivals in the Listed Bank of Ireland Loughbrown Stakes.

The 15-8 chance, who won a maiden at this venue a fortnight ago, was always travelling ominously well.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge got to the rail inside the final furlong and quickened away to score by seven lengths from Croi Mo Ri.

O’Brien said: “He is an improving colt, but basically no horse would like that (testing) ground. Johnny (Murtagh) said he would have no problem staying a mile and we have the three Guineas as options, although no decision will be made just yet.”

That victory provided O’Brien and Murtagh with some compensation for the defeat of US Ranger in the Castlemartin & La Louverie Studs Gladness Stakes.

An enterprising ride by Fran Berry saw Jumbajukiba land the Group Three contest.

The Jessica Harrington-trained 12-1 shot was clear by halfway and never saw another horse as he quickened away to win by three and a half lengths.

Richard Hannon’s Major Cadeaux travelled strongly in the early stages but had to settle for second place, while O’Brien’s 4-5 favourite was only third, another three-quarters of a length away.

Harrington, having only her second runner on the Flat this season, said: “We decided to make the running because he stays a mile.

“Fran said the horse was fresh and pulled hard in early stages and began to get tired late on, but he was entitled to.

“We have entered him in a Group Three here and at Leopardstown and we will keep running him while the ground stays soft and then maybe give him a break for the autumn.”

Red Moloney atoned for a below-par effort in the Winter Derby at Lingfield when running on strongly to land the Ascon Rohcon Alleged Stakes.

Trained by Kevin Prendergast, the 9-2 shot was always to the fore in the Listed contest under Declan McDonogh as Baron De’L went well clear in the early stages.

Baron De’L backpedalled two furlongs out, leaving Red Moloney to get on top of Deauville Vision close home, eventually scoring by a length and a quarter.

The O’Brien-trained favourite Macarthur never got into contention and finished seventh of the eight runners.

In-form Prendergast said: “We were very disappointed with his run in the Winter Derby at Lingfield, the only thing is that maybe he is a bad traveller, he also had a poor run at Galway last year.

“The horse was won on all types of ground, but he prefers the easier ground. We have plenty of options.”