Wannabe Royal sparks Browne McMonagle treble at Limerick

OUT IN FRONT: Evening Blossom and Dylan Browne McMonagle win for owner Brian Dolan and trainer Joseph O'Brien from Fort Vega. Picture: Healy Racing

Placed in her three previous starts, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Wannabe Royal impressed when making all to take the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, sparking a treble for her trainer and stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, in Limerick.

Sent straight into the lead by Browne McMonagle, the Wootton Bassett filly dictated things, skipped clear early in the straight and romped home six lengths clear of Indigo Dream.

“Dylan kept it simple,” said O’Brien’s representative Michael Halford. “She showed early pace and hit the line strong. She’s a forward-goer and was entitled to win her maiden like that. She’ll go another furlong and I’m sure the aim will be to get black type."

The Donegal-born rider produced a tactical masterclass when completing a stable double on board well-backed Evening Blossom, wearing a first-time tongue-tie, in the Great National South Coast Handicap, dictating a steady pace and, ultimately, finding enough to beat favourite Fort Vega by a half-length.

“She’s a grand straight-forward, tough filly, with a great temperament,” said the winning rider. “She got tired the last day and came forward well. She wasn’t in love with the ground but coped and, hopefully, she’ll keep improving through the ranks."

Browne McMonagle had to work hard to deliver the O’Brien treble, using all his strength to bring 6-5 favourite Out For A Stroll with a sustained late challenge to foil Slieve Bearnagh in the D & E Behan Handicap.

“She’s lazy but tough and kept finding for pressure,” said the rider. “It’s great to get her head in front on the Flat and she should improve.” The Carriganog combination had been expected to score earlier with Hostility in the Irish Stallion farms EBF Maiden. But the 11-10 favourite lost out by a half-length to Paddy Twomey’s Admiral Churchill, enterprisingly ridden by Billy Lee.

“He likes these tracks and looks a bit intimidated when he ran at the Curragh,” explained Twomey. “His owner is based in Yorkshire and we might bring this fellow to the Dante meeting, for a seven-furlong three-year-old handicap.” Bay Colony, third in the Naas maiden in which Wannabe Royal was second last time, further boosted the form when, stepping-up in trip, she battled well to take the 11-furlong fillies maiden for Fozzy Stack and Seamus Heffernan.

Three jockeys were in trouble with the Limerick stewards, Ronan Whelan (five days) and Declan McDonogh (four days) receiving whip bans while Shane Foley was handed a two-day careless riding ban.

In Kilbeggan, Henry de Bromhead received a significant pre-Punchestown boost, registering a tremendous treble.

Darragh O’Keeffe partnered top-weight and handicap debutante Magic Day to land the SIS Mares Handicap Hurdle and delivered the last leg when 16-1 shot Freddie Robdal proved a shock winner of the SIS-sponsored Handicap Chase.

And Rachael Blackmore provided the middle leg of the Knockeen haul, on board odds-on favourite Look To The West, who proved too strong for Gaoth Chuil in the mares' beginners chase.