Navan victor Carmers heading for Queen's Vase
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
11 hours ago
- ITV News
Furthur returns to winning ways with Geoffrey Freer triumph
Furthur put himself in the Betfred St Leger picture when making an impressive return to Newbury in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes. A winner at the Berkshire track at the beginning of the season, Andrew Balding's colt would go on to run with credit behind dual Derby hero Lambourn when fifth in the Chester Vase and then took the runner-up spot in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. He left a disappointing display at Newmarket's July Festival behind here, with Oisin Murphy taking full advantage of the gap presented up the inside rail to send the 13-2 chance on to an impressive three-length win over David O'Meara's 3-1 joint-favourite Epic Poet. Coral cut the winner to 14-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 13, with Balding confirming that would be his intended next target. He said: 'That was much more like it and for whatever reason he was really disappointing in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time. 'I think it's because I probably ran him back too soon after Ascot, but that was pleasing to see him settle nicely and then quicken like he did. 'We're hoping we'll be heading towards the Leger now, that seems the logical next step and he's proved he's worthy of his place there. The nice thing is he seems to handle any ground and we'll hopefully be in good shape at Doncaster.'
Rhyl Journal
12 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Furthur returns to winning ways with Geoffrey Freer triumph
A winner at the Berkshire track at the beginning of the season, Andrew Balding's colt would go on to run with credit behind dual Derby hero Lambourn when fifth in the Chester Vase and then took the runner-up spot in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. He left a disappointing display at Newmarket's July Festival behind here, with Oisin Murphy taking full advantage of the gap presented up the inside rail to send the 13-2 chance on to an impressive three-length win over David O'Meara's 3-1 joint-favourite Epic Poet. Coral cut the winner to 14-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 13, with Balding confirming that would be his intended next target. He said: 'That was much more like it and for whatever reason he was really disappointing in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time. 'I think it's because I probably ran him back too soon after Ascot, but that was pleasing to see him settle nicely and then quicken like he did. 'We're hoping we'll be heading towards the Leger now, that seems the logical next step and he's proved he's worthy of his place there. The nice thing is he seems to handle any ground and we'll hopefully be in good shape at Doncaster.'
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Telegraph
Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte predictions: Boxing tips and odds
Our boxing tipster Dan Fitch has predictions for Saturday's heavyweight clash between Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte at the ANB Arena in Riyadh (ring-walks, 10.20pm BST). He's expecting the younger man to end this fight early on. Itauma vs Whye tips Itauma to win in rounds 1-4 @ 5/4 with Paddy Power 2+ knockdowns @ 11/8 with Paddy Power Odds courtesy of Paddy Power correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a Paddy Power member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Itauma will get chance for early victory Moses Itauma faces the biggest test of his career so far when he takes on Dillian Whyte. The 20-year-old is considered to be the future of the heavyweight division and now meets one of the biggest names from its recent past. Whyte has recorded notable victories over the likes of Derek Chisora (twice), Joseph Parker, Oscar Rivas and Alexander Povetkin and is a former world title challenger. Now 37, 'The Body Snatcher' has been inactive in recent years. He fought twice in 2024, but this is his first bout since beating Ebenezer Tetteh in December, having withdrawn from a scheduled match against Joe Joyce in April because of a hand injury. Whyte looked sluggish in the win against Tetteh, labouring to a stoppage victory in seven rounds. To put that into context, Frazer Clarke stopped Tetteh in the first round when they fought in April and Daniel Dubois did likewise back in 2019. Check out our rankings of the best boxing betting sites Itauma's punch resistance has yet to be tested and, with a boxer's power traditionally being the last attribute that deserts them, Whyte still possesses a puncher's chance. Whether he can land that punch is another matter. Itauma has good footwork and fast reflexes, enabling him to be the aggressor, while evading shots on the counter. The southpaw's speed is also a major weapon offensively, especially in this division. His movement allows him to fire in shots from different angles and his feinting ability keeps opponents guessing. Whyte was backed up at times against Tetteh, so it's hard to see how he's going to handle Itauma's speed, variety and power. In the youngster's last fight in May, he stopped Mike Balogun with a counter shot when under attack. The fact that Whyte has that puncher's chance could also be his undoing. Attempting to offload against Itauma is a dangerous game, but it's hard to envisage Whyte going into pure survival mode. I think that Whyte's gameness will create an opportunity for Itauma to end this contest early. Knockout boost offers spot of value Whyte has been stopped three times in his career, with Anthony Joshua, Povetkin and Tyson Fury all flooring him with uppercuts. The veteran has a tendency to lean in, which makes him vulnerable to this shot. This is a flaw that an intelligent fighter such as Itauma and his coach Ben Davison will be looking to take full advantage of. In Itauma's most recent fight he knocked down Balogun three times in total. But while he has the ability to produce concussive one-punch finishes, his speed and the angles that he finds often enable him to take advantage of an opponent's lack of balance. So while there is a chance that Whyte will be knocked clean out, as he was in his three previous defeats, I think there is a strong chance that he will be knocked down with a lighter shot that allows him to get back off the canvas. The odds of there being two or more knockdowns in this fight have been boosted to 11/8 by Paddy Power, which looks like good value and offers a further opportunity to profit should Itauma fail to end the fight in the first four rounds. Itauma vs Whyte odds All odds courtesy of Paddy Power. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
