Mississippi River blitzs rivals at Leopardstown
Stable apprentice Jack Cleary seized this latest opportunity on the powerfully-built Lope De Vega colt, dictating the pace, with Wizard Of Odds for company.
But, when Cleary allowed the 11/8 favourite to stretch clear off the home-turn, the outcome was in in no doubt. And Cleary could afford to ease him down close home and still have four and a quarter lengths to spare over runner-up Joyful Princess.
Cleary, who also partnered Mississippi River to his maiden success in Navan, explained 'Just like Navan, I kept it simple. He was nice and relaxed early but picked-up when the other horse eye-balled him. He jumped, travelled and really picked-up. He's comfortable at that trip (a mile), but should stay a mile and a quarter.'
And Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong added 'We declared him. for the 'Britannia' (at Royal Ascot earlier yesterday), but he was third reserve and not getting in, and this looked a lovely opportunity for him. He's in two handicaps at the Curragh next week and might go there.'
Having his third run on the flat, and his first over a realistic trip, A Dream To Share, trained for JP McManus by John and Thomas Kiely, delivered in the concluding Leopardstown Members (Amateur) Race.
Re-united with John Gleeson and smashed in the betting into ½, the seven-year-old, a five-time, bumper-winner, brushed aside his rivals under hands and heels riding, beating Royal Hollow, readily, by a length and a half.
Gleeson commented 'I'm delighted to get back on him and to get his head back in front – he's been a very good horse for me. We went steady and I was able to pick-up the pieces in the straight.' And Frank Berry stated 'They didn't go quick, but he travelled away nicely and picked up – he couldn't have done it any better.
'We'll see where we go from here – we might go back over hurdles with him, but we'll need to keep an eye on the ground.'
Joseph O'Brien provided Declan McDonogh with the first leg of an early double as newcomer Dial Me In overcame a tardy start and had to weave his way thought the field before getting up on the line to pip gambled-on favourite Sound Bite.
'That didn't go to plan,' said O'Brien's assistant Michael Halford. 'He was very slow out and Declan had to be patient. But the colt showed a lot of courage and grit and just got there. He should improve plenty.'
McDonogh followed-up when Ciaran Murphy's filly Finsceal Annie, successful over course and distance (in much soft ground) last week, defied a 7lb penalty in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, prompting her rider to comment 'She's a versatile filly, on the up. They're talking about going to Galway – she might be good around there.'
*Apprentice Dylan O'Connor received an eight-day whip ban following his handling of El Bello in a division of the Jerry Fish Handicap.
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The 42
10 hours ago
- The 42
The two-time senior All-Ireland-winning boss who led his club to Galway glory as player-manager
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When Cleary joined the senior ranks of the club in the 2000s, he became close friends with Murray as well as teammates. 'We would have played a lot together and soldiered a lot. 'He would have played with probably nearly every great hurler that went through Sarsfield's bar, the lads that played in the 1980s. 'And then the current cup of players we have now, like Kevin Cooney and Joseph Cooney, Cathal would have played with them as well. He had a massive career takeout. He was one of our top performers every day we went out. 'The length of his career says a lot about him, how good he was and how well he looked after himself.' Galway great Joe Cooney playing for Sarsfields. INPHO INPHO Improvements didn't immediately follow after Cathal took charge. It took time to rinse out the problems that were holding the team back. By Cleary's recollection, winning games in insolation wasn't their issue. Inconsistency was the plague upon their house. 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And he would be very good at organising. When he commits to something, he commits to it. 'He has a great ability of looking as well into the future. He can see the end goal there.' Cathal Murray celebrates with the Galway team after winning the 2021 All-Ireland. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Murry was still hurling at junior level for Sarsfields when he first became manager of the Galway camogie team in 2018. Success has followed him there too as he heads for a fifth senior All-Ireland final later today. Murray has already delivered two of Galway's four senior All-Ireland titles in 2019 and 2021, and will aim for another O'Duffy Cup today to stop Cork's three-in-a-row drive. And when the Tribeswomen were in the 2019 intermediate and senior All-Ireland finals, Murray patrolled the sidelines for both games back-to-back. Related Reads Méabh Cahalane: 'My dad would say to enjoy it, because the turn of the tide waits for no one' Áine Keane prepared for a very different All-Ireland final experience 'For a few years there, we just didn't have the numbers' - Kerry camogie on the rise That pattern of effective double-jobbing goes back to his 2015 appointment with the Sarsfields seniors. 'In 2015, no one would have touched us,' Cleary says. 'And all of a sudden, we were able to compete. 'He's a positive person. Cathal didn't come in and say we're going to win a county cup. Cathal came in and said, 'we're going to improve things, lads. We get out of the group and we go from there and we'll keep the ball rolling and we'll see where it takes us.' 'If the [Galway] camogie team is ever wondering about Cathal's belief in them, the fact that he's there, that says it.' From leading his club to county glory as player-manager, to another All-Ireland tilt with Galway. Croke Park awaits this afternoon. ****
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Aidan O'Brien monitoring ‘quiet' Gstaad ahead of Phoenix showdown
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien raises slight concern for Gstaad ahead of Phoenix Stakes
Aidan O'Brien has sounded a word of caution over the anticipated rematch between Gstaad and his stable companion True Love in the upcoming Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. In their first encounter at Navan back in May, Gstaad left it late to overhaul the filly True Love, who had the advantage of a prior outing. Both horses then made a splash at Royal Ascot, with Gstaad clinching the Coventry Stakes and True Love securing her maiden victory in the Queen Mary. Since then True Love has beaten the boys in the Railway Stakes by five lengths and actually brings a higher official rating than Gstaad, who has not run since Ascot. The colt, who is the choice of Ryan Moore, has given O'Brien a slight cause for concern on Friday but the handler hopes it is nothing too serious. "They've met before obviously and the filly has that little bit more experience than the colt," said O'Brien. "She's had an extra run since Ascot, so it's going to be interesting. "The filly has a higher rating which is interesting but Gstaad was very good at Ascot. "It has always been the plan for him to run at Ascot, have a little break and then go to the Curragh with him. "Everything has been fine with both of them since, the filly hasn't done much since she ran the other week. "Gstaad has been working well but he was just a little bit quiet this morning. I don't think it was anything serious – all his work has gone well but he was just a little quiet so hopefully he'll be OK." O'Brien also runs Puerto Rico, second to True Love in the Railway and to Coppull in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. O'Brien's son Joseph fields the main danger in Green Sense, winner of the Prix Robert Papin last time out and a late absentee from the Ballyhane Stakes on Monday. He said: "We're happy with her off the back of a good run. "It looks a strong renewal of the race, obviously, if dad's two turn up. "We're hoping for a good run from her, and it would be great if she could get Group One-placed." Power Blue has not dodged anyone all season finishing fifth in the Coventry and third in the Railway, so Adrian Murray's colt faces a tall order in his bid to give the yard a second win in the race in three years. Murray said: "This looks a tough race for Power Blue, but he's been running well in all the big races and he's danced all the dances. "He's in great form so we'll let him take his chance. We'll see if Aidan runs both his big guns, you never know. "We won this with Bucanero Fuerte two years ago and he would have the edge at the same stage. Power Blue is a very nice horse, but Bucanero just always had that touch of class, he's a Group One winner." Power Blue is owned by Amo Racing as is the final runner in the field, David Loughnane's Do Bronxs.
