Limestone digs deep to see off Mr Vettori challenge

Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the New Bay colt, successful on his third juvenile start in Listowel, prevailed by a half-length from the flattering Mr Vettori before surviving a Steward's Enquiry.

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026 - 21:02

John Ryan

Limestone dictated the pace and dug deep to see off Mr Vettori by a half-length in the four-runner Dine In Our Panoramic Restaurant Race in Cork, second leg of another double for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the New Bay colt, successful on his third juvenile start in Listowel, prevailed by a half-length from the flattering Mr Vettori before surviving a Steward's Enquiry.

“It turned into a dash down the straight,” declared O’Brien. “It’s good that he coped with the ground, because it was very testing when he won in Listowel. The tongue-tie helps him and he’ll end up in a stakes race next. We might look at the ‘Gallinule’ for him.”

The Carriganog double had been initiated when Enceladus (Declan McDonogh) put his experience to good use against well-touted newcomer Almazann in the Social Packs From Just €30 Maiden, battling back bravely to score by a head.

“He’s a fine big horse and had two good runs last year,” said the winning trainer. “He’s a gross horse and should come on plenty from this. It would make sense to go for a three-year-old handicap next. He looks a mile and half horse.”

But O’Brien’s double was overshadowed by a sparkling treble for Johnny Murtagh, who triumphed with Tashakour, Final Voyage and Darius Dark, under different riders.

Outpointed by the potentially useful Shaftesbury Avenue on his seasonal bow in Navan, Tashakour (Ben Coen) captured the opening one-mile maiden at the expense of Suspicious Mindz and Nil Bua Gan Dua.

“They went slow and it turned into a sprint,” said Murtagh. “He had a good run in Navan. A mile is a god trip for him. And he’ll appreciate better ground.”

Murtagh struck again when Final Voyage, described as “a pet” by his trainer, registered his first success on turf when holding off Iron Fist and Coeur D’or in the €25,000 Sign Up To Our Newsletter Handicap.

The eight-year-old gave apprentice Jessica Maye her first success for Murtagh, whom she joined in recent months.

And the treble was completed in the concluding three-year-old handicap when Darius Dark (Rory Mulligan) stepped up on all previous form to see off Nod Of Approval and favourite Yousaynothingatall.

“He’s still a big shell of a horse and I thought he would ned more time,” commented Murtagh. “The extra distance really helped him.”

Zia Zabel, a powerfully-built son of Ghaiyyath, trained by Natalia Lupini, ran out a convincing winner of the median auction maiden, responding to Wayne Lordan’s urgings and staying on stoutly to beat odds-on favourite The Publican’s Son by a length.

The winning rider said: “We have always liked him. He had a good first run and he got caught out in bad ground at Leopardstown. He’s bit and was a tad weak, but he’s a nice colt, won well and should go on from this.”

Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy edged six clear of Darragh O’Keeffe in the title-race thanks to a Kilbeggan double, to which O’Keeffe replied with victory on 22/1 shot Mistyburn for Philip Rothwell.

Chasing a second title, Kennedy was on the mark on board 4/11 favourite Master Haku in the opening maiden hurdle and completed a double for Gordon Elliott on board stable debutant Chanceawetmorning in the Follow Kilbeggan On Social Media Handicap Hurdle.

And amateur Oran McGill also doubled,-up, scoring on Noel Kelly’s gambled-on favourite Fort Randall in a division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle and the Paul Traynor-trained Kershaw, narrow winner of the bumper.