Floresta can land Limerick spoils for in-form Murtagh
The Newtown Anner filly was fourth on debut, at Dundalk, and then third on her turf debut, in a Fairyhouse maiden won by Delta. On the latter occasion, racing from an impossible position, a long way off the slow pace, she flew home to take that spot, and the step up in trip can only help her find further improvement. She is a nice prospect and can take this en route to better things.
The top two in the ratings, Woodshaw Whisper and Waterford Flow, are the two to concentrate on in the finale, the Private Suites At Limerick Racecourse Handicap, and preference is for the former.
Ger Lyons' three-year-old was beaten favourite last time but the subsequent successes of the winner, Starford, and runner-up, Onemoredance, tell it was a huge effort to finish third while trying to give more than a stone to both.
The step up in trip is also a positive for a filly whose dam is a sister to some smart stayers, and with Nicola Burns taking 7lbs off her back, she can get straight back to winning ways.
Waterford Flow was well beaten but not disgraced in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and will find this far less competitive.
Stepdance, winner of the Tramore Derby Handicap on Tuesday, will be hard to beat in her follow-up bid in the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Apprentice Handicap.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare was ridden with unmistakable confidence when winning on Tuesday and looks as though she is still well treated off her current mark. It is likely to take a few more runs to find the ceiling of her ability.
In Dundalk, where the horse racing action leads to an evening of greyhound racing, which includes the Time Dundalk International, Lombardi Trophy can get off the mark in the Fairyways Hotel Dundalk Maiden.
The drop back in trip is what Donnacha O'Brien's colt needs and he can ensure Game Point's frustrating sequence of runner-up finishes continues.
Jessica Harrington's Spring Dance will be hard to beat in the Border Boutique Hire Fillies' Maiden, while Quickshot can wrap up proceedings by taking the Family Funday At Dundalk Friday 15 August Handicap.
Sunday's racing is of the much less interesting variety, but Red King has a great opportunity to get off the mark in the Navan Adventure Centre Apprentice Handicap.
Andy Oliver's three-year-old showed promise in three runs in his juvenile campaign but was below that level on his return to action. A little better second time up, he stepped up nicely for his most recent outing, when only picked off late by Happy Pharaoh. While he is dropping back in trip this time, if he runs to the same level, he will be hard to beat.
In Sligo, where the weekend's National Hunt action takes place, Spinning Web can carry top weight to victory in the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
On Tuesday, Mags Mullins' five-year-old contested the Tramore Derby Handicap on the Flat. While she was beaten favourite, it was no disgrace to find only the unexposed and apparently very well handicapped Stepdance too good, particularly as she was conceding 9lbs to that rival.
Back over hurdles on what looks likes a manageable mark of 110, she can build on that fine effort at Tramore by winning here.
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Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Floresta can land Limerick spoils for in-form Murtagh
There's a busy weekend ahead, with four meetings in Ireland, followed by two more doubles on Monday and Tuesday. Saturday afternoon's action is in Dundalk and Limerick and the nap goes to Floresta, who can continue Johnny Murtagh's fine run by taking the Limerick Median Auction Fillies' Maiden. The Newtown Anner filly was fourth on debut, at Dundalk, and then third on her turf debut, in a Fairyhouse maiden won by Delta. On the latter occasion, racing from an impossible position, a long way off the slow pace, she flew home to take that spot, and the step up in trip can only help her find further improvement. She is a nice prospect and can take this en route to better things. The top two in the ratings, Woodshaw Whisper and Waterford Flow, are the two to concentrate on in the finale, the Private Suites At Limerick Racecourse Handicap, and preference is for the former. Ger Lyons' three-year-old was beaten favourite last time but the subsequent successes of the winner, Starford, and runner-up, Onemoredance, tell it was a huge effort to finish third while trying to give more than a stone to both. The step up in trip is also a positive for a filly whose dam is a sister to some smart stayers, and with Nicola Burns taking 7lbs off her back, she can get straight back to winning ways. Waterford Flow was well beaten but not disgraced in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and will find this far less competitive. Stepdance, winner of the Tramore Derby Handicap on Tuesday, will be hard to beat in her follow-up bid in the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Apprentice Handicap. The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare was ridden with unmistakable confidence when winning on Tuesday and looks as though she is still well treated off her current mark. It is likely to take a few more runs to find the ceiling of her ability. In Dundalk, where the horse racing action leads to an evening of greyhound racing, which includes the Time Dundalk International, Lombardi Trophy can get off the mark in the Fairyways Hotel Dundalk Maiden. The drop back in trip is what Donnacha O'Brien's colt needs and he can ensure Game Point's frustrating sequence of runner-up finishes continues. Jessica Harrington's Spring Dance will be hard to beat in the Border Boutique Hire Fillies' Maiden, while Quickshot can wrap up proceedings by taking the Family Funday At Dundalk Friday 15 August Handicap. Sunday's racing is of the much less interesting variety, but Red King has a great opportunity to get off the mark in the Navan Adventure Centre Apprentice Handicap. Andy Oliver's three-year-old showed promise in three runs in his juvenile campaign but was below that level on his return to action. A little better second time up, he stepped up nicely for his most recent outing, when only picked off late by Happy Pharaoh. While he is dropping back in trip this time, if he runs to the same level, he will be hard to beat. In Sligo, where the weekend's National Hunt action takes place, Spinning Web can carry top weight to victory in the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle. On Tuesday, Mags Mullins' five-year-old contested the Tramore Derby Handicap on the Flat. While she was beaten favourite, it was no disgrace to find only the unexposed and apparently very well handicapped Stepdance too good, particularly as she was conceding 9lbs to that rival. Back over hurdles on what looks likes a manageable mark of 110, she can build on that fine effort at Tramore by winning here.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Hassett and Stepdance claim Tramore Derby Handicap glory
The Tramore Derby Handicap, worth €20,000, topped the bill on Tuesday night's meeting at the sun-soaked Waterford track, and the lion's share of the spoils stayed local as Stepdance emerged triumphant for Henry de Bromhead and the Dawson family. The five-year-old mare, having her first run of the season, was given an ultra-confident ride by Wayne Hassett, who waited and waited before allowing his mount, the 3-1 second-favourite, to quicken into the lead with a furlong to go. 'I'm delighted for the Dawsons – they're great supporters of the game, and of ours,' said de Bromhead. 'My father trained for their father many moons ago, so we have a lot of history together. John has been very patient with her, and it's nice to get her to win one. 'Wayne gave her a lovely ride. He was very confident on her. She had been working well, and when those fillies start winning, anything can happen. I've stuck her into an apprentice race in Limerick at the weekend.' The Follow Tote On X Claiming Race got the evening's entertainment underway and while the lightly raced Figaruso was not seen in competitive action since being beaten favourite in a Ballinrobe Maiden Hurdle in August 2022, he landed some nice bets under a positive ride by Mikey Sheehy. An imposing sort, he was sent to the front from the outset and despite having plenty of challengers on the turn for home, the Matt Quinn-trained six-year-old found plenty to make light of his 1065-day absence. Jeaniemacaroney ended a series of runner-up finishes on the level with a well-deserved victory in the Maiden. Dylan Browne McMonagle, riding for Joseph O'Brien and owner JP McManus, kept it simple from the outset, as he grabbed the rails slot and made all the running. Odds-on favourite Seo Linn held every chance but was unable to get by the determined winner. Said the winning rider: 'I dictated things in front, and she's got a bit of pace and was able to pick it up when I went for her. I thought the favourite would be hard to beat, but our one has been hitting the crossbar, and she deserved to get her head in front.' The in-foal No Niki No became the third consecutive winner on the card to make all the running, doing so for Eoghan O'Neill and jockey Chris Hayes. 'She's a great ride around there, and those type of tracks,' said Hayes. 'She's got gate speed and she's nimble underneath you. She pricks her ears when in front, but you'd swear she had been around here 100 times because she was changing her lead, giving herself a bit of room and then cutting the bend.' Hayes later completed a 26-1 double, doing so with the same front-running tactics. This time it was the Joseph Murray-trained Make Good, in the Racing TV Free Trial Now Handicap. Allowed an easy time up front, the ten-year-old quickened at the bottom of the hill and won for the sixth time in his career. In the Racing TV Handicap, the race for the early lead, which neither jockey on Out On Friday and Gotta Catch'em All wanted to lose, resulted in sizzling early fractions which, unsurprisingly, neither was able to maintain. Wesley Joyce, riding Ina Mina for trainer Michael Mulvany, was happy to allow the race to develop in front of him, and when the inevitable pace collapse happened, he sent his filly to the front and on to a 15-length victory. 'We're still only learning about her,' said Mulvany. 'She's a filly that seems to be strengthening up, and now that she knows where the winning line is, hopefully she can do it again. We'll see what the handicapper does with her, but we could go back to Ballinrobe, or maybe to Galway.' Miss Gitana, a four-year-old filly trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Leigh Roche, made all the running in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap. Twice a winner in Britain when trained by Mark Prescott, she was unsuccessful in early forays over hurdles for current connections, but this victory gives her something to build upon.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
William Haggas tells me next targets for two of his Royal Ascot stars – but it's more bad news for Economics
UNLUCKY Wokingham runner-up More Thunder could be supplemented for the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket while impressive Royal Ascot victor Merchant may well head to Glorious Goodwood. That's the latest news from William Haggas as he shuffles plans for some of his stable stars, although options remain on hold for Economics as he continues to recover from injury. Advertisement 1 William Haggas said hugely impressive Royal Ascot winner Merchant could end up in the St Leger at the end of the season Credit: Alamy More Thunder has been an absolute revelation for Haggas, having been trained last term by the now retired Sir Michael Stoute. Just a year ago this month, More Thunder was beaten at Chester over an extended 1m2f. A year on, however, the son of Night of Thunder, owned by Saeed Suhail, has raced solely over 6f, scoring at Newmarket twice before coming from last to second - beaten a head - behind Get It in the Wokingham. He would have won in another stride or two. Advertisement Haggas told me: "More Thunder could go to Ireland on the 20th for a Group 2 over 7f or he could be supplemented for the July Cup. "We will look at the Group 1 over 7f at York as well. "He was a bit far back and got tangled up in the Wokingham but ran very well." Merchant got a huge form boost over the weekend when Serious Contender, the horse he beat in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Rated just 90 at Ascot, Merchant will now head into Group races. "The Gordon Stakes looks the most likely target for Merchant," Haggas said. "It's possible he's a St Leger horse. But all options are open. "He could still be a King George contender, and what I can say is he won't come out of that race at the next forfeit. So we will see." Advertisement Last season's monster Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes victor Economics missed Royal Ascot through injury and has been absent since October of last year when defeated in the Qipco Champion Stakes. Economics is going nowhere for the time being. Haggas said: "As everyone knows he got an injury from which he is recovering but not quickly enough for us. "We are missing big events like Royal Ascot and the Eclipse. Advertisement "I doubt he will be ready for the Irish Champion so we will be looking at later in the season." On a brighter note, Godwinson might be upped in class for the Group 3 Prix Messidor. Haggas said: "He went up 5lb for winning the Lincoln which was a good prize and another 5lb for winning at Newcastle the other day which was much less money which is not ideal. "But what can you do? I needed to run him and the going on the grass is too firm for him. He might well go to France." Advertisement In other stable news, Haggas remains bullish about the talent of Lake Forest despite the colt beating only two home in the Criterion at York over the weekend. Lake Forest had been brilliant in Australia back in November, taking the Golden Eagle at Rosehill in terrific fashion from Lazzat, himself a star at Royal Ascot. "We ran Lake Forest too quick," said Haggas. "It was also not a track to come from behind from. It looked like there would be plenty of pace, but the other front runners left Quinault alone - although he did very well - which wasn't good for us. Advertisement !Lake Forest could go for the Lennox at Glorious Goodwood or the Sussex. !He could easily run second or third in a Sussex. He's a good horse. He's got a lot of ability. !Remember the race he ran at Newmarket as a juvenile in a novice was awful (got beat at 1-3f). Then he came out and won the Gimcrack!" FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
