
Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes
Ridden by Shane Foley, deputising for the suspended Gary Carroll, the 16-1 shot came from last to first, challenging down the outside to lead at the furlong pole and dug deep to see off Colin Keane's mount by a short-head, with a three lengths back to long-time leader Galen.
Tight for room early in the straight, Purview squeezed through and had every chance through the final furlong. He stayed on but was narrowly denied.
'She had a really good run in Ascot and is a solid filly,' said winning rider Foley. 'The race worked out lovely, in a small field. I was able to take my time, which is perfect on her. She picked-up better than I expected off the turn and, when it mattered, she found plenty.
'It was a very nice spare to pick up, but I'm sure Gary will be back on her the next day.'
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen Of Hawaii built on a promising debut run at the Curragh to take the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in convincing fashion from front-runner Minerva.
Dylan Browne McMonagle delivered his challenge turning for home and, in command before the furlong-pole, the Kingman filly stretched away to triumph by two and a half lengths.
'She had a lovely run in a strong maiden and came forward from it," said O'Brien. 'She appreciated stepping up to a mile and you'd have to be impressed by the way she won.
'If she's to keep to a mile we'll have to wait. But she's in the Silver Flash here next week and the Debutante and they're options if we decide to drop back to seven furlongs.'
Fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, Fairy Oak, ridden by Colin Keane, who completed a double on Noel Meade's newcomer Heiselectric in the 10-furlong maiden, made all to justify 10-11 favouritism in the opening two-year-old maiden, outpointing promising newcomers Yellowstone Lake and Morehampton.
'She was entitled to win her maiden,' stated trainer Michael O'Callaghan. 'Colin felt she had sharpened up from Ascot and that she'd prefer faster ground. She'll step back up in class — she's in the Lowther and has a few other big entries. She's a real two-year-old, very straight-forward and a real trier.'
Similar front-running tactics paid off for Chris Hayes on board 33-1 shot Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, Bill Durkan's charge holding on by almost two lengths from Joltin, despite jinking right close to the line.
'He's been working well with Parkside Lad and the barrier-trial he was going to was cancelled, so we had no option but to come here,' explained Durkan's assistant Gary Gannon. 'He's a nice horse, from a nice family, and open to plenty of improvement. And he's for sale.'
And 11/4 favourite Tatum brought up doubles for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes when staying on dourly to foil Louiescall, narrowly, in the Champions Festival Handicap.
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Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Havana Anna repeats Naas success
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Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Dreal Deal delivers on first start for Rothwell
Dreal Deal has garnered many a headline during his career but, after a spell in the wilderness, he made a return to winning ways in the BoyleSports Handicap Chase in front of a bumper crowd to end another successful festival in Killarney. On his first run for Philip Rothwell, having been with John McConnell and Ronan McNally, he was given a fine ride by Simon Torrens to collar longtime leader Gaelic Arc in the final stride. 'That's a massive surprise,' admitted the winning trainer. 'I saw he was in a claimer in Sligo last month for €15,000 and I bought into him myself privately after the race. I knew some of the lads involved and they asked me would I like to buy a share in him and to train him. 'We've changed things around. He is living in a paddock on his own and we've done a lot of different little things with him. I was hoping for a confidence-building run so it was far from expected, but I think we can build on it.' Nurburgring limbered up for a tilt at the Galway Plate with a spin over an inadequate two miles and a furlong in the Lee Strand Novice Chase but it provided a good spin for the classy dual-purpose performer. His jumping wasn't without an error or two, but JJ Slevin knew what he had under him, and simply pushed him out hands and heels to see off Special Cadeau, who had travelled well to mount a challenge. Victory gave trainer Joseph O'Brien his sixth winner of this meeting to add to one in Nottingham earlier in the afternoon, and one on Thursday evening in Leopardstown. 'It's been a great week,' said stable representative Michael Halford. 'He's a smashing horse. On his form, he was entitled to do that, and he did it well. He missed the second-last but they were just going on a bit at it, and he never lost any momentum. 'He hadn't jumped for a while, so that will have done him the world of good, and he'll probably go to Galway now, for the Plate.' The day opened with a 50-1 winner, Something Noble, who made a winning debut over timber in the Killarbney Park Hotel 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. 'Thrilled with the horses,' said winning trainer Ciarán Murphy. 'They're in great form, and coming right at the right time, so I'm happy out. 'We think this is this horse's future. We were thrilled with him at home, and if he ran a nice race today, we were happy. Very impressed with Eoin (Walsh) today, he gave him a super ride. The horse has loads of scope and was bought with this in mind, but he will do the Flat job too.' Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy got amongst the winners when Neon Diamond ran out an easy winner of the Killarney Grand Mares' Maiden Hurdle. A bumper winner in April of last year, she was disappointing in early forays over hurdles, but this was much better and it will be no surprise if she adds another couple to her tally in the coming weeks. Greatness Awaits, having just his second run for Cian Collins, took the Lee Strand Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Jordan Gainford. Brought from last to first to lead between the last two obstacles, he had to be ridden out to hold the late rally of market leader Winning Smut, who was a little caught for toe before flying home to snatch second place. Killarney is a track which Enda Bolger targets with great success and recent Limerick winner Tippin And Tappin gave the Limerick trainer another success at the venue when landing the first division of the Europe Hotel And Resort Handicap Chase under a positive ride by Darragh O'Keeffe. The second division went to the John Ryan-trained Smallcraftwarning, who was given a smart ride by Daniel King to creep into contention and then forge clear approaching the last for a comfortable success. John Murphy, who had two impressive winners in the Flat phase of the festival, went close to winning a bumper on Thursday night but made no mistake in this finale. Lemon Zest, building on a promising debut, needed plenty of assistance from Harry Swan but eventually got there with a little to spare.


Irish Times
7 days ago
- Irish Times
Four-way battle for jockeys' championship is a major opportunity to sell the sport
Sometimes good fortune falls in your lap, and Horse Racing Ireland has been gifted a promotional boon it can hang a fascinating story around much of the rest of this flat season. Racing is fundamentally about horses, but little grabs the public imagination more than a head-to-head battle for a jockey's title and circumstances have conspired to supply such a scenario in spades. Right now, there are four riders entitled to fancy their chances of being crowned Ireland's champion flat jockey when the season ends in November. Much of that is due to Colin Keane's own good fortune in being appointed to one of the most coveted positions in European racing. Being number one rider to Juddmonte means Ireland's reigning six-time champion is going to be on his travels. The upside is a chance to compete for the greatest prizes in Europe. The downside is he can't take care of business at home so much. Another snag is the risk of picking up suspensions such as the 14 days he will have to serve out later this month for breaking British whip rules. READ MORE That briefly made Billy Lee favourite to be crowned champion for the first time this season. Runner up to Keane for the last three years, including beaten by just three winners (92-89) in 2022, Lee looked to be in pole position to take advantage of his rival's absences. Billy Lee is facing at least four weeks out after breaking his collarbone. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Except last Saturday at Limerick, he broke his collarbone in a fall. He's facing at least four weeks out. So, suddenly, both Chris Hayes and Dylan Browne McMonagle find themselves licking their lips at the thought of a title challenge too. It used to be that nobody talked of the jockeys' championship until Listowel in September. Often it was because the outcome was a foregone conclusion, or those in the hunt didn't want any fuss. But for those charged with 'morkoting' the sport this is a godsend. Nothing weaves a narrative through a lengthy time frame quite like a title race. The most famous of all remains the epic duel between Ireland's Pat Eddery and American Steve Cauthen to be crowned Britain's champion jockey in 1987. When the cross-channel season went from March to Doncaster in November, it was a thread of continuity through much of the campaign. 'I remember that at the beginning of the season we both decided we wanted to win it,' Cauthen recalled. 'From mid-season there was never more than half a dozen in it, and it went right to Doncaster on the last day.' Both men went everywhere, to Scottish outposts like Hamilton and Musselburgh, in pursuit of a winner. The struggle was a media dream, supplying drama to even the most mundane midweek fixture in the middle of nowhere. Pat Eddery had an epic battle for the jockey's championship with Steve Cauthen in 1987. Photograph:It did no harm that the laconic Irishman and the smooth 'Kentucky Kid' were two of the finest jockeys ever to ride a horse. By the end it was 197-195 for Cauthen. It was so taxing he vowed never to try again. Eddery won for the following four years. In 2007 a British title race again went down to the last day, where Jamie Spencer and Seb Sanders eventually shared the title on 190 winners each. Just three years after that Paul Hanagan edged out Richard Hughes by two on the final day. Teeing up this kind of clash for publicity wasn't such a priority in Ireland. In 2002, Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh went into the final day tied for the title on 76 winners each. Kinane eventually won a titanic battle that in broader sporting terms almost slipped under the radar. Things got better for when just two winners separated Jack Kennedy and Paul Townend at the end of a tussle for the 2024 jump jockey's championship. The victorious Kerry man admitted afterwards the whole thing had been nerve-racking. Such tussles can be as tense as they are all-consuming for those involved. But they are fascinating for viewers, even casual fans who can engage with the elementary day-to-day fluctuations of such a competition. It makes the prospect of four riders with distinct personalities and profiles trying might and main to win an even better opportunity to sell the sport. Keane is the star turn. No one could begrudge Lee a title having got so close before. Browne McMonagle is the young buck, just 22 and full of potential. Then there's Hayes, a notably fluent individual which is always helpful to those charged with selling the sport. There are more than enough storylines within such a scenario to have HRI's promotional platforms whirring for weeks to come, pushing a straightforward narrative through a quartet of elite sportspeople striving to come out on top. As for who wins, bookmakers reckon Hayes is the outsider of four. But considering he's able to do light weights – getting as low as 8.6 in the last year – that could look generous come November 2nd. Whatever the outcome it will be a test for all concerned, including those tasked with getting the message out. Something for the Weekend Rashabar (1.50) has been mixing it at the top level over a mile without success and is upped to 10 furlongs for tomorrow's Listed opener at Newbury. A convincing argument can be made on pedigree for him relishing it. If conditions don't get too soft the sole three-year-old in the line up could simply be too good for this opposition. Minnie Hauk is the Curragh's star Irish Oaks attraction but her juvenile stable companion Extravagant (4.50) looks more of a betting proposition in a Nursery. He is dropped back to six furlongs from his last start and connections look to fancy the 83-mark assigned to him.