Successful week for Tipp riders and trainers at Listowel
Rachael Blackmore won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Listowel on Monday week last on Mayor's Walk. The Henry De Bromhead trained filly won by six-and-a-half lengths in the colours of Stephen McCarthy.
Ben Coen won the Sands Of Mali Ballyhane Stud Fillies Maiden at Fairyhouse on Monday on Spanish Rose for Natalia Lupini. The Tracey O'Hare owned three-year-old was an easy five length winner.
Donnacha O'Brien sent out Gloucester to win the nursery under Paddy Harnett. The Ten Sovereigns colt won by two lengths.
Gavin Ryan and his boss Donnacha O'Brien won the opening two-year-old maiden at Listowel on Tuesday with Starliner. The son of Showcasing was always just doing enough, as he held off My Princess to win by a head for Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd.
At that same meeting, Nathan Crosse was seen at his best when guiding outsider Maud Gonne Spirit to a shock win in the featured Listed Stakes. The Jessica Harrington trained mare led in the dying strides to record a neck success in the colours of Olivia Hoare.
Drop The Dip made all under Gavin Ryan to land the mile handicap at Listowel on Thursday for Thomas Gibney. Carrying the colours of Alberta Capital Ltd, the 9/1 shot stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Water Nymph won the mile maiden at Listowel on Thursday for Aidan O'Brien. Sent straight to the front by Jack Cleary, the 9/2 shot made all, holding on well to score by half-a-length.
Sean Bowen and Tim Doyle teamed up for another Tipperary success on that same card courtesy of Simply Sideways. Sent off the 4/1 favourite, the Claire Doyle owned mare led before the straight in this nine-furlong handicap, skipping clear of her rivals to win by two-and-a-half lengths.
David Marnane also got on the scoresheet with his well backed Night Moon (14-1 into 5/1) absolutely bolting up in the mile-and-a-half handicap. Sent on over two furlongs out by Luke McAteer, the MRC International owned gelding was eased right up to win by eight-and-a-half lengths.
Tag Man survived a bad mistake at the last to win the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle for Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead at Listowel on Friday. The Roger Brookhouse owned gelding justified odds-on favourite by an easy fourteen lengths.
Alabama was an easy odds-on winner for Aidan O'Brien in the opening two-year-old rated at Dundalk on Friday. The Colin Keane ridden colt was always prominent, leading two out and going on to score snugly by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Andrew Slattery teamed up with Thurles jockey Cian Quirke to land a tidy gamble with Smooth Tom (8/1 into 5/2) in the two-mile maiden hurdle at Listowel on Saturday. A smart handicapper on the flat, the Margaret O'Rourke owned gelding led after the last to win by one-and-a-half lengths.
A third Listowel festival winner for Rachael Blackmore came via Atimetodream in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Listowel on Saturday. Owned by the One For Luck Racing Syndicate, the mare led at the last and went clear to easily justify 4/1 favourite by eight-and-a-half lengths.
Edward O'Grady enjoyed Listowel success on Saturday too, with the Derek O'Connor ridden Harvey's Quay making most of the running to land the three-mile Qualified Riders Handicap Chase by half-a-length at odds of 5/1.
Paddy Twomey enjoyed further big race success when his smart juvenile Deepone ran out a convincing 3/1 winner of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. Ridden by Billy Lee, the Study Of Man colt went clear under two furlongs out, keeping on to score by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
Just over an hour later, Twomey and Lee teamed up again to win the 7-furling Goffs Million with debutant One Look. Owned by Connolly Racing, the 5/1 chance led inside the final furlong, going on to win very impressively by six lengths.
Wayne & Martin Hassett won the 7-furlong Apprentices Handicap at the Curragh on Saturday with Magic Charm. Owned Deirdre Hassett, the seven-year-old led inside the final furlong before staying on strongly for a two length success.
Gavin Ryan won the 6-furling maiden on that same card on Yosemite Valley for his boss Donnacha O'Brien. The 5/6 favourite made up for a disappointing reversal at odds-on last time by easily justifying favouritism by four-and-a-quarter lengths.
Gasper De Lemos justified 9/4 favouritism when running out an easy winner of the 7-furlong maiden at the Curragh on Sunday for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Always prominent, the colt went away from rivals inside the final furlong to win by three lengths.
Ben Coen won the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes on that same card on Caught U Looking for Noel Meade. The 4/1 chance followed up her recent Leopardstown maiden success with a comfortable half-length defeat of favourite Sakti.
Upcoming Fixtures
Bellewstown – Wednesday, September 27 (First Race 1.25pm)
Sligo – Wednesday, September 27 (First Race 2.10pm)
Bellewstown – Thursday, September 28 (First Race 1.40pm)
Clonmel – Thursday, September 28 (First Race 1.55pm)
Gowran Park – Friday, September 29 (First Race 2.05pm)
Dundalk – Friday, September 29 (First Race 5.10pm)
Killarney – Saturday, September 30 (First Race 1.55pm)
Gowran Park – Saturday, September 30 (First Race 2.15pm)
Tipperary – Sunday, October 1 (First Race 1.40pm)
Killarney – Sunday, October 1 (First Race 2.20pm)