Bosphorous Rose scampers clear of Abbey Actress to take Roscommon win

Bosphorus Rose and Billy Lee win for trainer Paddy Twomey. Pic: Healy Racing

Formerly trained by Mark Prescott, Bosphorous Rose gave Paddy Twomey his third win in five years in the listed Watch Racing TV Irish EBF Lenabane Stakes in Roscommon.

Third in the recent Munster Oaks on her stable debut, the Make Believe filly sat second for most of the journey, was eased into the lead by Billy Lee at the two-furlong pole and scampered clear to slam Abbey Actress by four and three-quarter lengths.

“She was just ready to run in Cork and Colin said she took a blow,” explained Twomey. “We like this race and we were expecting a big run. And Billy made it look easy.

"She was very progressive last year. William (Kennedy) liked her and bought her and was good enough to send her to us. She’s step into a Group 3 now.” 

Out of luck with odds-on favourite Starford (finished third) in the feature, Joseph O’Brien was on the mark earlier when the Shane Foley-ridden Elusive Echo took the seven-furlong fillies maiden, getting up late to master Almeiyda by a neck.

Foley had earlier had his nine-day ban incurred at Naas last week reduced from nine days to six days and, significantly, downgraded from ‘Improper riding” to ‘careless riding”.

Young Curragh trainer Danny McLoughlin saddled his first two-year-old winner of the season when Damsel In Distress stepped up significantly on her Listowel debut to take the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, outpointing favourite Sea Of Rain by a length and a quarter.

“She’s a filly we’ve always liked, but got stage fright when the gates opened in Listowel,” explained McLoughlin. “But she has come forward and has been doing things right at home. She’s only a frame of a filly, so there should be plenty of improvement to come. And she’ll get a mile plus.” 

Damsel In Distress was the first leg of a superb treble for Ben Coen, who struck again when Andy Slattery’s handicap debutant and 5/2 favourite Nermal got the better of the well-backed Vantage Code in the Conor Cassidy Car Sales.

He said: “He’s a likable horse – he tries hard and hit the line hard - he’ll have no problem going a mile and a half.” 

Johnny Murtagh provided Coen with the final leg of his treble and his 25th winner of the season when 15/8 favourite Ashikita proved best in the concluding maiden.

There was a poignant outcome to the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap, which commemorates the jockey who died in 2003 following a fall in Galway, as the Kevin Coleman-trained Thatwilldoso repeated last year’s win under Cleary’s younger brother Rory, pipping Flying Fortress by a short-head.

Earlier, on Wexford’s all-chase card, Rockonliam, a last-time-out-winner in Listowel, made a successful chase debut when justifying even-money favouritism in the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Beginners Chase.

Confidently handled by Darragh O’Keeffe, the six-year-old hit the front, travelling strongly, two from home and, shaken up on the run-in, drew away to score by four and a half lengths from Ned In The Park.

The winner is trained by Henry de Bromhead, who stated: “I’m delighted with him – we always felt he’d improve over fences and the lads (the Cheeky Pups Syndicate) should have plenty of fun with him.” 

Willie Mullins landed the Dunbrody Beginners Chase with State Man’s half-brother Soir De Garde (Sean O’Keeffe), who survived a mistake at the fourth before seeing off stable-companion Nadia’s Boy (Brian Hayes) on the run-in to score by more than a length from William Tell.

“It didn’t go to plan,” stated the winning rider: “He did a lot of things wrong. He was a bit keen early and made a couple of mistakes. He has his own way of doing things, but dug deep on the run-in. His jumping will improve plenty.” 

A couple of previous course winners landed handicaps, local trainer Paul Nolan striking with Rue Taylor who outstayed Teenage Kiss (rider Charlie O’Dwyer received a four-day whip ban) to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase, an outcome sullied by winning rider Carl Millar’s five-day whip ban.

And 10-year-old mare Chosen Shant added to her two hurdle wins on the track when taking the Duncannon Beach Handicap Chase for owner-trainer Aengus King and J J Slevin, with King commenting: “She is what she is, but loves it around here. I got a gift of her and will be gifting her back in January.