Take The Free delivers Roscommon victory for Bolger and Kelly
TAKING FLIGHT: Take The Free and Aidan Kelly win the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing
In the colours of race-sponsor JP McManus, the Enda Bolger-trained Take The Free bagged the biggest prize on offer in Roscommon on Monday night, the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
Aidan Kelly, who was riding out his 3lb claim, had the home-bred four-year-old Walk In The Park gelding close to the pace throughout and, ultimately, mastered front-running favourite Frankie’s Freebie to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “He had a grand run here the last day and didn’t have to improve much to win today. He jumped well and going a bit further helped him.
“Aidan gave him a lovely ride and he won well. We’ll tip away with him in handicaps for the summer.”
Kelly added: “He was a bit keen early and I was happy to get a lead. It was his first time at the trip and, he’s still a big baby and had a good look when he hit the front. But he’s only four and will get further in time.”
Successful on her hurdling bow in Punchestown, the Gordon Elliott-trained mare Lizzie Twigg (11-8) favourite retained her untarnished hurdle record when outpointing 130-rated market rival Dani Donadoni, from whom she was receiving 12lb) in the SuperValu County Roscommon Ladies Day Novice Hurdle.
“She won well in Punchestown and it’s nice to see her back it up,” stated winning rider Josh Williamson. “We went a good gallop and she stuck at it well. She could be a classy mare.”
Elliott completed a double when 9-2 shot Goodgollymissholly, placed in Downpatrick on her stable debut, landed the mares’ bumper under Charlotte Butler, beating longshot Madame Du Berlais convincingly.
Cocofred continued the good form of Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe when landing the first division of the Shanagher Hearing Maiden Hurdle at the expense of front-runner Astelia and Game Point.
Representing the trainer, Robbie Power said: “He jumped super and travelled nicely into the race. He has plenty of scope and Darragh said he was very brave at the last three hurdles.
“He showed a hood attitude on the run-in and is open to more improvement. He bounces off the good ground and we have plenty of novice options for him. I hope he can build on this. And he’ll jump a fence in time.”
There was drama in the second division of this event as front-runner Manoir De Mirande, travelling strongly, was badly hampered and almost carried out at the third last flight in a race which went to 40-1 debutante Like An Ocean for the father and son combination of Adrian and Harry Sexton, beating Minella Moon Shien narrowly.
Seán O’Keeffe doubled-up in the two handicaps on the card, taking the Sheehy Meares/Team Earley Handicap Hurdle on Shane Crawley’s Del Boys Diva before guiding the Andrew Kinirons-trained, Galway-bound Western Model to victory in the Roscommon herald Handicap Hurdle.
Rocky’s Howya recorded his fifth win of 2026 when making all to land the Knockcroghery Claiming Hurdle by nine lengths from Tullyreevy Lad. “There’s a three-mile handicap hurdle on the Sunday in Galway and he might go there,” winning trainer Declan Queally said of the 15-8 victor.
