O’Brien's Highwayman strikes again at Leopardstown
Highwayman and Scott McCullagh win for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Pic: Healy Racing
In-form Joseph O’Brien supplied a notable 1-2 in the featured Bet With The Tote Irish RBF Vinnie Roe Stakes in Leopardstown, victory going to stable outsider Highwayman (22/1) over 7/2 shot Cannes.
Runaway winner of a Killarney maiden in mid-July, and a second stakes winner for rider Scott McCullagh, 93-rated Highwayman powered up the Leopardstown straight to beat his 7/2 stable-companion, ridden by Declan McDonogh, by two and a quarter lengths, with Ballydoyle colt Piazza San Marco, on his seasonal debut, in third.
Winning trainer O’Brien was represented by Michael Halford, who explained, “He’s a lovely straight-forward horse, with a great temperament. He just needed time, but he’s really stepped-up in spades.
“He’s improving rapidly, from run to run. And it’s great to see that sort of improvement. It’s hard to know where he’ll end up.”
In the two-year-old action, Aidan O’Brien’s Wootton Bassett filly So Lovely made it third-time-lucky in the Tote Guarantee EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden.
Sent for home turning for home by Wayne Lordan, the soon forged clear and stayed on to beat debutante Zenith Blaze by a length and a half.
O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong said, “She had two lovely runs and was crying out for a mile. She could be a high-class filly and will step into Group 1 company next – she could go for the Fillies Mile or ‘Marcel Boussac’.
Fourth in a six-furlong at the Curragh last weekend, Banks On The Boyne continued the tremendous season being enjoyed by Mick Mulvany when making all under Wesley Joyce in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden.
The 9/4 favourite dug deep up the straight to keep market rivals Sovereigns Joy and The Green Helmet at bay.
Mulvany stated, “He’s a good, honest horse and wanted that longer trip. He missed break on Sunday but came home well. We’ll target some of the Sales races in the autumn – he’ll have a nice light weight in them.”
Willie McCreery admitted: “The pressure is on to give Ian Rush a winner at Chester (on September 11),” after Naoi (20/1), formerly with Paddy Twomey and making her stable debut, landed the Unio Employee Benefits Handicap at the expense of Free Solo.
The winner is owned, in partnership, by the legendary Liverpool and Wales footballer and Michael Ryan. And McCreery added, “Ian is from Chester and would love to have a winner there – so that’s the plan. She’s a lovely little filly.”
Ben Hur is on course for the ‘Lartigue’ (Four-year-old Handicap Hurdle) in Listowel following his gutsy win over Cooley’s Mist in the Money Back Daily Specials With Tote Handicap.
The Adam Caffrey-ridden winner is trained by Noel Meade, who pointed out, “I thought Adam went to the front very early in Galway and it didn’t work out. But this makes up for it. He’ll run again on the flat but, all going well, he’ll head to Listowel.”
And, without a win since June of last year, the Dermot Weld-trained Tachos returned to winning ways when justifying 3/1 favouritism, under a strong ride from Chris Hayes, in the finale, the Dublin To Bahrain Fillies Handicap.
