Monvoe completes Cody double at Limerick
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE: Monvoe and Reece Holohan win for trainer Ray Cody. Pic: Healy Racing.
Kilkenny trainer Ray Cody sent two horses to Limerick on Wednesday evening and left with a double, one that was completed by Monvoe landing the feature, the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Memorial Handicap.
Having won two of his three starts this year, the three-year-old was sent off the 6-4 favourite here and overcame a sluggish start to get the job done in the hands of jockey Reese Holohan.
“He’s really after turning a corner this year,” Cody said. “Last year he was a nightmare, he just wasn’t racing properly but, with a winter under his belt, he came back a different horse and he’s racing properly now. He’s improving for every run so I’m delighted with him. He’s a fine, big horse and you’d be thinking he can only improve.”
Next on the agenda for Monvoe is a trip to the Curragh on Irish Derby day.
Cody added: “I stuck him in at the Curragh on Derby day, a nine-furlong and three-year-old only race that’s worth €100,000 and I’d say he’ll probably go there next.”
The Cody double was initiated in the opening race where a significant step up in trip worked the oracle for Merlin The Wizard in the Limerick Optional Claiming Race.
The 9-4 shot has done the bulk of his running over a mile but relished the step up to 12 furlongs to score in the hands of Colin Keane.
“The trip was obviously a worry, going up to a mile and a half, but I thought after the last day, at the Curragh over a mile, he looked to be on his head all the way,” Cody said.
“Colin said he got the trip no bother there which is great as it opens a few more options. He’ll jump a hurdle down the line. The owners are from Galway so he’ll definitely pitch up there, whether it’s in a maiden hurdle or a handicap on the Flat.”
Merlin The Wizard’s victory was the first leg of a treble for Keane with his second win coming on Res Ipsa for Ger Lyons in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden The Frankel colt was sent off the 1-5 favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and pulled six lengths clear of 50-1 shot Stable Lane after reeling in the longtime leader a furlong out.
“Sometimes you can get carried away with pedigrees and they have this weight on their shoulders, that he’s a brother to this, brother to that so I thought let’s bring him down here, tick the box, and see how he progresses from here,” Lyons said.
Keane completed his treble in style with a brilliant ride on Java Wood in the Twilight Summer Racing @ Limerick Handicap.
The six-time Irish champion jockey had to wait for a gap to emerge but, when it did, the Kevin Smith-trained 6-1 shot responded generously to the jockey’s urgings to ultimately win a shade cosily.
Smith said of the winner: “He had recent form on ground which wasn't ideal and over distances which were too short, and I've been waiting for today's ground for a while.
“Colin said he was quite green still so there could be a bit more to him, and also said he's the type of horse who could jump a hurdle in time.” Meath handler Smith went on to complete the first double of his career when 7-1 shot Unfamiliar won the second division of the Cosgrave Transport Handicap under Chris Hayes.
Smith said: “She’s a grand filly and like my earlier winner, I've been waiting for soft ground for her. My father owns this filly and I have 10 horses at the moment but, unfortunately, I don't really have any paying owners as they are home-owned. I'd love to get more but it is very hard to attract new ones. To be honest, I just don't know what to do or how to get new owners.”
The Michael Mulvany-trained Imnotleavingyou won the first division, scoring in the hands of Wesley Joyce.
“She was second three times and I thought the last day we rode her a little wrong, we forced her a little early,” Mulvany said. “She has plenty of gears, we decided we’d ride her different. We have her declared for Friday night and we’ll probably run her, she’s in good form.”
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Lord Aus justified 15-8 favouritism in the Conference & Banqueting Facilities @ Limerick Handicap.
Lord Aus came here on the back of an encouraging run at Down Royal last month and sauntered to a smooth success for Ben Coen.
Murtagh said: “He ran very well the last day. He was very small and narrow at the start of the year but he’s getting it together now and this looked likely the perfect spot, a mile and a half as he’s bred to stay well. He won like I thought he would because he did improve from Down Royal.”
The Paul Fahey-trained Our Lucky Lady sent punters home happy when justifying 15-8 favouritism under Jessica O’Gorman in the finale, the Racing Again On June 19th Handicap.
