CREPELLO - Visitors dominate in epic finish to Irish Derby

Saturday's Irish Derby was, on paper at least, one of the best for some years with all the placed horses in the Epsom equivalent renewing rivalry on the more galloping Curragh track.

And it produced a hectic finish as Hurricane Lane reeled in Lone Eagle in the dying strides after the latter looked all over the winner when he slipped the field a couple of furlongs out.

Aidan O'Brien supplied no less than five of the eleven runners, including the favourite High Definition who ran a most disappointing race.

Michael Hussey, aboard Matchless, set a generous pace but faded when the race began in earnest early in the straight. At this point, Hurricane Lane was being scrubbed along and Frankie Dettori seized the moment to shoot Lone Eagle into a lead which looked unassailable. Meanwhile William Buick, on Hurricane Lane, began to find his feet as he gradually closed the gap on the leader and in a welter of excitement got up in the dying strides to land the spoils by a neck with a further seven lengths back to the third finisher Wordsworth in the hands of Shamie Heffernan.

Considered to be a shade unlucky at Epsom when he lost both front shoes, there was plenty of confidence behind Hurricane Lane with his trainer Charlie Appleby proclaiming that he would be very disappointed if he was not involved in the finish as he had come on a huge amount since the English Classic in which he was somewhat green. Appleby told me post-race that he will have to consult with the Godolphin people about the next move which might include the King George or the Prix del Arc, or even the St. Leger as the Epsom hero Adayar has to be accommodated.

Lone Eagle fully justified Martyn Meade's decision to travel while Epsom runner-up Mojo Star, who incidentally is still a maiden, and the Jim Bolger trained Mac Swiney failed to stay, although Mojo Star suffered traffic problems at the vital stage in the straight.

Galway born but English domiciled pair of trainer David Loughnane and jockey Rossa Ryan teamed up to land the six-furlong Group 2 Railway Stakes for juveniles with Go Bears Go in what was a cracking renewal of this time-honoured race.

Always in the firing line, the Son of Kodi Bear picked up well from the two-furlong marker and was always holding off the Fozzy Stack runner Castle Star who did not have the clearest of runes.

Supplemented for the race at a cost of €10,000 Go Bears Go is, according to Loughnane, the best horse he has trained so far and is likely to return for the Phoenix Stakes later on.

Joseph O'Brien upstaged his legendary father Aidan when he captured the Grade 1 Pretty Polly Stakes with Thundering Nights in Sundays concluding session.

Beaten by just a nose in a Grade 2 at Belmont Park on her most recent appearance, the Night Of Thunder filly was always close to the pace before taking a definite advantage inside the two-furlong pole and held off the strong challenge of Santa Barbara by a nec,k in spite of drifting in the closing stages.

This was a fine piece of riding by Cahir born rider Shane Cross who is getting plenty of rides from Joseph O’Brien and is repaying that confidence in spades.

Ben Coen, who hails from Killusty just a few miles outside Fethard, and is a first cousin of fellow jockey Andy Slattery, has made a great start to his new job as retained jockey to the Johnnie Murtagh stable which has already yielded a Royal Ascot winner. He was seen to further advantage when landing the valuable Rockingham Handicap on Urban Bear.

Making every post a winning one under his burden of ten stone, he readily accounted for Colin Keane's mount by two lengths to claim his sixth victory and amass €150,000 in prizemoney.

Joey Sheridan was the jockey in form in Fridays opening session at the Curragh, recording a double which was initiated by Ice Cold In Alex in the seven-furlong Brady Family Supporting Barretstown handicap.

Trained by Ken Condon, the seven-year-old was settled towards the rear, he improved to be in the firing line heading towards the final furlong and once Sheridan asked him to quicken the response was electric and he won going away by a length and a quarter from Dixie Bluebell.

A four-time winner for connections coming into the race, Ice Cold In Alex was without a victory since scoring at Leopardstown in August 2018 but he has picked up plenty of prizemoney with good, placed efforts. He obviously likes the Curragh air as he has been twice successful at the venue earlier in his career.

Sheridan completed his brace when guiding Longbourn to a comfortable victory in the mile and two TRI Equestrian Handicap.

Setting off in front on the Ross O'Sullivan trained five-year-old, the rider judged his fractions to perfection and still had a little up his sleeve as he passed the post a length and three-parts to the good from the Andy Slattery runner Solene Lilyette.

Previously under the care of Eddie Harty, the winner was purchased for €26,000 at last year’s Goff’s February Sale and he has now won twice for his new handler. It must be said that Sheridan is improving with almost every ride. He is a prodigious talent and it's great to see that talent recognised by outside trainers.

Aidan O'Brien saddled Interpretation to capture the mile and two maiden in the hands of Ryan Moore. Making virtually all the running the Galileo colt, who was sporting cheekpieces, was one of the first off the bridle but showed plenty of resolve from the two-furlong marker to hold off the sustained challenge of the favourite Safecracker by a length.

Unfancied when he finished fourth to his stable companion Cleveland at the venue on his only start as a two-year-old, Interpretation must have been showing signs of waywardness when Aidan decided to apply blinkers for his seasonal debut. Time will tell how good a maiden this was, but the winner could only beat what was in front of him and his progress will be followed with interest.

Jim Bolger got his name on the scoresheet when Beyond Happy captured the mile and a half apprentice Derby. A relatively unexposed individual, the son of Fastnet Rock, ran free for the first couple of furlongs but his rider Luke McAteer allowed him to stride on. He as one of the first off the bridle, however, he responded well to the urgings of McAteer to land the spoils by a length and a quarter from outsider Allora Yeats.

A lightly raced individual, Beyond Happy is a nice sort according to Bolger's daughter Una Manning. The step up in trip suited him and he is expected to show further improvement with the passing of time.