Latest news with #NauticalForce
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Lordan gets timing right as Rock of Cashel grabs win
Navan/Sligo reports The Aidan O'Brien-trained Rock Of Cashel, who had competed in loftier company at two and earlier this season, captured the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race in Navan, helped by an enterprising ride by Wayne Lordan. Having tracked the leader, Lordan made his move, running downhill, with three furlongs to race and, soon in command, had first run on ¼ favourite Nautical Force, who stayed on, but could never get on terms. Two lengths separated the pair at the line. And O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong commented: 'He has been highly tried and appreciated dropping in class. The race worked out beautifully for him and Wayne gave him a lovely ride. 'He looked a stakes horse after he won his maiden in Galway last year and this should do his confidence good. I'm sure he'll be stepping back up in class after this.' Johhny Murtagh, trainer of hot-pot Nautical Force and in Croke Park to watch his beloved Meath, had enjoyed better luck earlier when Zuheila, in the Aga Khan colours, made a winning debut in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden. Awkward from the stalls, Zuheila justified hefty support (12/1 in the morning, backed into 5/2 favourite) tracking the leaders and knuckling down well when popped the question by Ben Coen to outpoint 75-rated Washingtom Street by a half-length. Coen commented: 'She's a nice filly, bred for speed. She has been doing things right at home and we were expecting a good run. She was a bit green coming down the hill, but quickened well and had a good look when she hit the front. There should be plenty more to come from her.' Another man with other things on his mind (in Croke Park), Noel Meade won the opening two-year-old maiden with odds-on favourite Star Of Sapphire who gained compensation for her narrow debut defeat at Bellewstown, forging clear in the final furlong to beat All Hail by three lengths. 'She even felt like a nice filly going to the start,' admitted winning rider Shane Foley. 'She broke well, but I wanted to take my time and, when I asked her, she picked-up well. She's a big girl, enjoyed that quick ground and is a filly with a future.' And My Girl Sioux, in-foal to The Antarctic, followed-up her recent Bellewstown success when taking the Newgrange Hotel Handicap for Andy Slattery, giving teenager Jimmy Dalton, from Tullamaine, near Fethard, his first victory in the saddle. Summer racing scene from the County Sligo venue with a packed grandstand. Picture: Healy Racing My Girl Sioux was the second leg of an across-the-card double for the Slattery team, initiated when 5/6 favourite Killeaney Bear made all to take the Durkin Bros. Electrical Maiden Hurdle which opened Sligo's jumps card. 'He jumped a lot slicker today,' stated winning rider Cian Quirke. 'He'll stay further — I couldn't pulled him up. He's a nice horse, both on the flat and over hurdles.' Tom McCourt suggested: 'The owners are mad to have a runner in Cheltenham, so we might think about going there in November,' having watched Radar Ahead (Darragh O'Keeffe) open her hurdling account, on her handicap debut, in the Racing TV Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle. Backed from 5/2 to 6/5 favourite, CJ's Darling bolted-up for Gavin Cromwell and Conor Stone-Walsh in the CT Electrical Maiden Hurdle. John Cullen, who trains outside Ballina, struck for the second time when Cornmarket (100/30 favourite) and Alan King took the Kilcawley Construcion Handicap Hurdle. He admitted: 'I'd love to go to Galway with him, but it won't be easy to get in there. He can always come back here to Sligo the following week.' And amateur Josh Berry savoured his first success in the saddle, partnering Brendan Walsh's Richiesandsams Lady to victory over favourite Sing My Story in the bumper.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory
Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn. This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot. Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh's 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1. O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him. 'In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses. 'Obviously, Johnny's horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully. 'He's a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.' Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden. Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons' Washington Street by half a length. Coen said: 'She's a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home. 'You can see why she hasn't got to the track until now, she's a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving. 'She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.'
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory
Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn. This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot. Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh's 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1. O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him. 'In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses. 'Obviously, Johnny's horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully. 'He's a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.' Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden. Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons' Washington Street by half a length. Coen said: 'She's a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home. 'You can see why she hasn't got to the track until now, she's a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving. 'She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.'
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Rock Of Cashel gets his head in front for Navan victory
Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn. This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot. Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, he took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to down Johnny Murtagh's 1-4 favourite Nautical Force by two lengths at 3-1. O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'The way the race worked out, it was a lovely race for him. 'In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses. 'Obviously, Johnny's horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully. 'He's a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.' Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5-2) in the Ardboyne Hotel Maiden. Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons' Washington Street by half a length. Coen said: 'She's a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home. 'You can see why she hasn't got to the track until now, she's a big girl but she did that nicely. She had a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving. 'She was (doing all her best work late) – she was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.'
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Aidan O'Brien's Rock Of Cashel upsets the odds to get back on track at Navan
The three-year-old had been highly tried since winning a Galway maiden last season, running in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last autumn. This term he has been campaigned in Group and Listed company before trying his hand in a handicap to no avail at Royal Ascot. Against just three runners in this conditions race, however, the 3/1 chance took command early in the straight under Wayne Lordan to get the better of Johnny Murtagh's 1/4 hotpot Nautical Force by two lengths. O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'In fairness to him, he has been dropped in the deep end from word go this year. He ran with credit behind Henri Matisse and Delacroix and was beaten five to six lengths behind proper Group One horses. 'Obviously, Johnny's horse brought a high level of form here. Wayne gave him a lovely ride and the race worked out for him beautifully. 'He's a horse we thought of as a stakes horse after Galway last year as a two-year-old, so hopefully this will do his confidence good and we will bring him back up to a stakes race over a mile and a-quarter and see how he goes.' Murtagh had already been on the mark with newcomer Zuheila (5/2) in the six-furlong maiden. Ben Coen nursed the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old into the closing stages before getting down to business to beat Ger Lyons' Washington Street by half a length. 'She's a nice, big filly and bred to have a bit of speed. She has been doing things nice at home,' said Coen. 'You can see why she hasn't got to the track until now, she's a big girl but she did that nicely. She'd a good look when she hit the front, but hopefully she can stay improving. 'She was green running down the hill and, when I hit the rising ground, she came good.' At Sligo, meanwhile, the featured handicap hurdle went to Sargent Lightfoot (4/1) for the trainer-jockey combination of Adrian Murray and Kieren Buckley – the 11-year-old getting the better of fellow veteran Jack Holiday on the run-in.
