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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lot Of Joy ready to open Flat account for Mullins
Ballinrobe preview Accomplished, 136-rated hurdler Lot Of Joy might be capable of registering her first Flat success for Willie Mullins in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap which closes tonight's flat card in Ballinrobe. The seven-year-old mare, successful twice in Sweden before arriving in Closutton, responsible for two Royal Ascot winners last week, finished fourth to stable-companion Echoes In Rain on her stable debut in the 2002 Connacht Hotel Amateur Handicap in Galway. She has failed to deliver on her subsequent starts on the level but has been placed in a couple of premier handicaps along the way, in addition to starting favourite for the 2023 English Cesarewitch. She has won three times over hurdles for Mullins, at Fairyhouse, Gowran Park and Punchestown, including a win at listed level and, most recently, filled fourth spot behind stable-companion Jade De Grugy in the 'Quevega' (Grade 3) and the Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle, both at Punchestown. Lot Of Joy, the mount of Royal Ascot victor Seamus Heffernan, remains feasibly treated on a flat mark of 84 and, presumably on her way back to Galway, should be ultra-competitive in this tricky affair. Gordon Elliott's Royal Eagle, who nailed No Niki No in last year's race, returns for a double bid on the back of a hurdle success in Listowel and renews rivalry with Eoghan O'Neill's mare twelve months on. At the bottom of the handicap, the Ger Lyons-trained Heather, with her three-year-old allowance, looks nicely weighted with 8-10, minus the 7lb claim of Nicola Burns. This diminutive filly was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Galveston in a three-year-old handicap in Naas last time and is one of the main threats to the Mullins mare. Earlier, Joseph O'Brien, who bagged an across-the-card four-timer on Saturday, should be on the mark again with 80-rated Nobler in the Irish Stallion farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. This Amaron gelding has finished in the frame in all six starts, achieving a decent level of form which should make him tough to beat in this type of maiden. Third to Dakota Blue on his three-year-old debut in Navan, he then finished fourth to the progressive Reyenzi on the same track and, lasts time, chased home Admiral Churchill in a one-mile Listowel maiden. Helped by a low draw and, significantly, wearing blinkers for the first time, to help him concentrate, Nobler is likely to be ridden positively by Dylan Browne McMonagle and should be tough to beat. Rated 78, Eoin Griffin's Molto Amichi has obvious claims in the Lodge At Ashford Castle but, a horse who hitst a flat spot in most of his races, the Ballinrobe track might not be ideal for him. And it might be worth opposing him with Joseph O'Brien's mare Janes Harbour, consistent over hurdles before getting off the mark in a maiden hurdle at this venue four weeks ago. She has raced only once on the flat (her debut in Cork last August), but might have sufficient gears to land the spoils.
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Royal Ascot next on the agenda for 'gorgeous' Zahrann
The progressive, Johnny Murtagh-trained Zahrann came from last to first for an emphatic victory in the listed King George V Cup, the twin-feature at Leopardstown on Thursday night. Confidently handled by Ben Coen, the Night Of Thunder colt, in the familiar Aga Khan colours, circled the field on the home-turn, challenged down the outside and, quickening well, drifted left briefly before stretching clear to beat Arouet by two and a quarter lengths with favourite Acapulco Bay in third. 'He came out of his maiden win in Cork really well and we felt the mile and a half would suit him,' said Murtagh. 'He settled well and quickened well and is still improving. He's a gorgeous horse, with a great temperament. He came from the back and showed a good turn of foot. 'He's going the right way and we'll see how he comes out of the race. We have him pencilled-in for the Group 2 in Ascot (the King Edward VII Stakes) and I'll talk to the team and see what they want to do. He wouldn't be out of place over there.' In the other listed action, the Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Green Impact, sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, made all to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes in gutsy style, holding off market rival Currawood by a half-length. Shane Foley dictated the pace on the Wootton Bassett colt, saw off the challenge of Azada early in the straight and responded to pressure to hold on. 'It wasn't the plan to make the running, but Shane said nobody wanted to go on,' explained the winning trainer. 'He only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way but kept finding when he was joined. 'He has a great big stride and Shane has always wanted to go a mile and a half with him. He's a Wootton Bassett, but out of a Galileo mare. And he'll go straight to the Irish Derby now.' Harrington and Foley completed a double when Lady In Paris (20-1) proved a shock winner of the Boylesports Handicap, getting the better of Its All Peachy. Just as Bedtime Story did 12 months ago, Moments Of Joy (Wayne Lordan) booked her ticket to the Chesham at Royal Ascot by taking the opening, seven-furlong two-year-old fillies' maiden. The Ballydoyle second string, a daughter of Justify, displayed stamina and courage to get the better of Little Sure Shot, with a four-lengths gap back to the well-touted, Ryan Moore-ridden favourite Minerva. O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong said: 'Aidan felt they were two lovely fillies coming here. Ryan's filly was very raw and Wayne's far more professional. They went a solid pace and this filly stays well. She's a fabulous, long-striding filly, with a great temperament, and, if she's come out of the race well, could be one for the Chesham.' Trainer Ger O'Leary declared, 'We'll have a party tonight and then think about going across the water (to Royal Ascot),' having seen Love Billy Boy hold favourite Fort Vega by a half-length in the seven-furlong apprentice handicap. He added: 'Wayne (Hassett) broke my heart last night in the Curragh (when he won on Mr Percy, at the expense of O'Leary's Jabbar), but said he'd make up for it tonight. It's his 19th birthday, so I'm delighted for everyone. This horse is in the Royal Hunt Cup but, if he doesn't get into it, there's a seven-furlong handicap on the Thursday.' O'Leary and owners the Purosangue Racing Syndicate doubled-up when 14-1 shot Bear Profit (Dylan Browne McMonagle) held off Artful Approach by a half-length in the second division of the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, the first division having gone to Dermot Weld's filly Tachos and Chris Hayes.
RTÉ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Navan victor Carmers heading for Queen's Vase
Paddy Twomey's Carmers continued to impress when booking his Queen's Vase ticket with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes at Navan. The Wootton Bassett colt won on debut just over a week ago, taking a Ballinrobe maiden by a length and a quarter with the rest of the field well strung out behind him and the runner-up. He started as the 6-4 favourite under Billy Lee when stepping up to Listed level on his second start, tackling the same one-mile-five-furlong trip in a field of seven. Again the bay showed his class, racing prominently throughout and easily shaking off all challengers to secure a three-length victory from Adrian Murray's What's Your Game. Twomey said: "I was very happy with the way he did it in Ballinrobe. He's a horse that just does what he has to do, hence the headgear (blinkers). "I thought he would run a good race (in Ballinrobe) and I thought he would finish the race well. I thought he would be in the (first) three. He surprised me maybe just how well he won at the line, he won comfortably and Donagh (O'Connor) said he had to go down the back straight to pull him up. "He came home, licked the pot, rode out this week, didn't care and I said to Billy 'I'm going to put him in the Yeats and see what happens'. As the week went on, it became clear that he was ready to go. "We were keen today to get a lead, we knew we'd stay and ordinarily we might have jumped and made it, but he's a horse that I don't think would like to be in front too long. "When he went to the front I was a little bit concerned but, to be fair to him, he picked up and rallied. He's keeping plenty for himself, I'd say there's plenty in him. "He has ability but he is just like the trainer – he does what he has to do! "I said it to the owner there, that race (Queen's Vase) in Royal Ascot is probably the right race for him. He's a stayer and he has enough experience to go to a race like that. "I was thrilled when Fiona (Carmichael, owner) asked us to train the first for her a couple of years ago and she kindly sent me on this horse. She has been very patient with me. He trained very well all last year without being asked any question. He has trained well this spring and is two for two in eight days." Earlier on the card there were two notable winners for Aidan O'Brien, firstly in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs. Gstaad, a half-brother to Vandeek, was the horse who came home in front, striking by three-quarters of a length on debut to find himself entered into the Coventry Stakes market at 10-1 with Paddy Power. O'Brien's other winner, and another horse throwing his hat in the ring for Royal Ascot, was the €2.2million purchase Seattle. Winner of the five-furlong Navan Racecourse Maiden by a length and a quarter, the colt is now a 25-1 chance for the Commonwealth Cup with both Paddy Power and Betfair.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Beset and McDonogh battle back to give Joseph O'Brien third Sligo Fillies handicap victory in five years
Joseph O'Brien saddled first and third with stable debutants in the €30,000 Irish Stallion farms EBF Fillies Handicap in Sligo as Declan McDonogh extricated Beset from trouble on the inside to pounce late for victory over Fratas and Lemsairbat. Formerly trained by Henry Candy in England and carrying the 'Lady Of the Lamp' colours, the Expert Eye filly swooped to give her trainer a third win in the event in five years. McDonogh explained, "I was caught in traffic and needed luck and I had no other option but to go down the inside. I loved her attitude — she wanted to get into the gap and quickened through it nicely. "Today was all about learning about her and, hopefully, she'll progress from here. We went a hell of a gallop and she couldn't go early, but she came home well, so stepping up to a mile and a half shouldn't be a problem." The long trip from Golden to Sligo paid off for Paddy Twomey as €150,000 Arqana Breeze-Up purchase Ceo Stealth Mode made a successful debut in the Median Auction maiden. Backed into 8/11 favourite, Billy Lee's mount overcame his inexperience, coming from off the pace and ultimately, scoring, going away, by four lengths from market rival Chester Nimitz. Ceo Stealth Mode and Billy Lee win for owners Bond Thoroughbred Limited and trainer Paddy Twomey. Picture: Healy Racing "It's hard to win around here first time out, but he's a nice colt,' explained Twomey, 'He's learning on the job and that trip (an abbreviated six furlongs) would be a minimum for him. He'll go out in trip and we'll try to find a suitable winners race for him." Trainer Danny Murphy continued his impressive early-season strike-rate when Agouti Bear (Jamie Powell) dictated the pace and ran on strongly to beat Shoney by two and a half lengths in the Download The Tote App Fillies Maiden. "She's a nice filly, but has her quirks,' said Murphy, 'She dropped Jamie at the start, bit did her job well in the race. I had her sold after her first win, but the lads (the Kildare Racing Syndicate/Brogue (Taum) Racing Club) changed their mind — I 've had three horses for them and they've all won." "I'll enter this filly for a six-furlong handicap in Naas on Saturday, although I'll be entering two others as well." Gegenpressing will reappear in today's 5.20 at the Curragh in the wake of his narrow win, from an outside draw, under Chris Hayes (lost his whip) in the six-furlong Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap. Trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, the seven-year-old was repeating last year's win in the 0-60 handicap and recording his third course and distance success. Patrick Harty commented, "He's become a bit of a family pet and is a great lead horse at home. He does what he wants, but Sligo seems to be just right for him. The plan has always been to run again tomorrow — Jessica (O'Gorman) will ride him." Apprentice Keithen Kennedy took the riding honours, registering a double on Pat Fahy's You Make Me Smile, for a local syndicate, in the Apprentice Handicap and the Jessica Harrington-trained Birdie Time, a convincing winner of the finale, the APEX Controls Ltd. Handicap. Read More Jade De Grugy too good for Brightersdaysahead in Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Wannabe Royal sparks Browne McMonagle treble at Limerick
Placed in her three previous starts, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Wannabe Royal impressed when making all to take the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, sparking a treble for her trainer and stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, in Limerick. Sent straight into the lead by Browne McMonagle, the Wootton Bassett filly dictated things, skipped clear early in the straight and romped home six lengths clear of Indigo Dream. 'Dylan kept it simple,' said O'Brien's representative Michael Halford. 'She showed early pace and hit the line strong. She's a forward-goer and was entitled to win her maiden like that. She'll go another furlong and I'm sure the aim will be to get black type." The Donegal-born rider produced a tactical masterclass when completing a stable double on board well-backed Evening Blossom, wearing a first-time tongue-tie, in the Great National South Coast Handicap, dictating a steady pace and, ultimately, finding enough to beat favourite Fort Vega by a half-length. 'She's a grand straight-forward, tough filly, with a great temperament,' said the winning rider. 'She got tired the last day and came forward well. She wasn't in love with the ground but coped and, hopefully, she'll keep improving through the ranks." Browne McMonagle had to work hard to deliver the O'Brien treble, using all his strength to bring 6-5 favourite Out For A Stroll with a sustained late challenge to foil Slieve Bearnagh in the D & E Behan Handicap. 'She's lazy but tough and kept finding for pressure,' said the rider. 'It's great to get her head in front on the Flat and she should improve.' The Carriganog combination had been expected to score earlier with Hostility in the Irish Stallion farms EBF Maiden. But the 11-10 favourite lost out by a half-length to Paddy Twomey's Admiral Churchill, enterprisingly ridden by Billy Lee. 'He likes these tracks and looks a bit intimidated when he ran at the Curragh,' explained Twomey. 'His owner is based in Yorkshire and we might bring this fellow to the Dante meeting, for a seven-furlong three-year-old handicap.' Bay Colony, third in the Naas maiden in which Wannabe Royal was second last time, further boosted the form when, stepping-up in trip, she battled well to take the 11-furlong fillies maiden for Fozzy Stack and Seamus Heffernan. Three jockeys were in trouble with the Limerick stewards, Ronan Whelan (five days) and Declan McDonogh (four days) receiving whip bans while Shane Foley was handed a two-day careless riding ban. In Kilbeggan, Henry de Bromhead received a significant pre-Punchestown boost, registering a tremendous treble. Darragh O'Keeffe partnered top-weight and handicap debutante Magic Day to land the SIS Mares Handicap Hurdle and delivered the last leg when 16-1 shot Freddie Robdal proved a shock winner of the SIS-sponsored Handicap Chase. And Rachael Blackmore provided the middle leg of the Knockeen haul, on board odds-on favourite Look To The West, who proved too strong for Gaoth Chuil in the mares' beginners chase.
