Townend set to keep up strike rate
Limerick and Fairyhouse previews
Champion-jockey Paul Townend might strike on his only ride in Limerick, the Willie Mullins-trained Keep Up, in the RAYN Safety & Security Mares Maiden Hurdle.
This daughter of Storm The Stares has raced only twice, but impressed when turning over odds-on favourite and subsequent winner Jerry From Kerry on her debut at Roscommon last August, forging clear in the closing stages to triumph by five and a half lengths.
That performance earned Keep Up a crack at the listed 'Mucklemeg' at Gowran Park in October, always a competitive end-of-summer contest.
And, although she failed to make an impression, she fared better than better-fancied stable-companion Carmeletta Vega in filling fifth spot behind Aruntothequeen and Mozzies Sister (a subsequent hurdle winer and placed in Grade 1 company).
The strength of that form is reflected in the fact that Keep Up, twenty-three lengths clear of the sixth, finished just three-quarters of a length behind Paddy Twomey's Seo Linn, who has progressed to win a listed mares event in Cheltenham and. Grade 2 in Aintree.
Sure to be well-schooled for her hurdling bow, Keep Up should prove too strong for the consistent, Gordon Elliott-trained Emily Love.
Later, Kiln Time, in the familiar Bowe colours, should be noted in the Franke Dunworth Handicap Hurdle.
A winner, off 81, at Naas three runs back, he has since finished third to Wyoming Baby in Cork and, last time, filled fourth spot in a handicap chase won by Riggs in Wexford.
Back over hurdles here, with Cian Quirke again in the plate, Kiln Tim should reward each-way support.
We also have flat action in Fairyhouse where the Ger Lyons-trained Juddmonte filly Sapphire Princess will be expected to open her account, at the third attempt, in the End Of School Year Maiden.
This Kingman filly was made odds on for her debut in a seven-furlong Cork maiden but failed to cope with Dermot Weld's Bella Isabella.
Dropped back in trip, she sought compensation on the same track three weeks ago but came up short, finishing third, beaten six lengths, behind City Of Memphis and Bonus Time.
At the weekend, Bonus Tiem landed a six-furlong Curragh maiden while City Of Memphis, supplemented to the race, finished a creditable fifth to Laske Victoria in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
On that basis, Sapphire Princess should take plenty of beating here, with Sun Soldier the most likely threat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Gypsy Queen quickens to emphatic victory
Stepping up on her recent debut in Limerick, the Willie McCreery-trained Gypsy Queen ran out an emphatic winner of the six-furlong End Of School Year Maiden in Fairyhouse. The well-backed Pinatubo filly came from off the pace under Billy Lee to master uneasy favourite Sapphire Princess, before beating long-time leader Manhattan Chute by almost five lengths. 'She's home-bred, so this is important,' stated McCreery. 'Billy said she loved the bit of ease in the ground. She quickened up nicely and won well. 'She was on her head early on, so seven furlongs might suit her. We'll try to find a 'winners of one' or a fillies' handicap for her next.' Jamie Powell recorded his fifth win of the season and was seen to good effect on board Danny Murphy's No Return, a Curragh maiden winner in the spring, in the six-furlong Fairynights @Fairyhouse Handicap. Although drawn high, the Kodiac gelding broke well, was soon able to dictate the pace and, in the closing stages, kept on well to beat top-weight Misappropriation by a length and a quarter with favourite Gazelle D'or, from off the pace, in third. 'There was no pace angle and Jamie got a soft lead,' commented the successful trainer. 'He's a good money-spinner and six furlongs is perfect for him.' Owner-trainer Matty Tynan declared: 'I'm in the game a long time and this is the best day of my racing life,' after his grand-daughter Orla, 18, who is apprenticed to Andy Slattery, savoured her first success in the saddle. 'I'm glad I'm alive to see it, my grand-daughter riding a winner for me,' after 33-1 shot Solomon Coop bolted up in the House Restaurant Apprentice Handicap. Winner of an 'optional claimer' in Ballinrobe last time and better suited by this more galloping track, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Fantazy Man defied a mark of 81 and top-weight in the concluding Country & Western Handicap, staying on dourly up the straight for Ben Coen to beat Edergole's Angel by almost five lengths and giving the impression that he'll have no problem stepping-up to a mile and a half. And Murtagh's apprentice Yudish Geerdharry enjoyed a welcome change of luck when taking the seven-furlong handicap on board the Diego Dias-trained 40-1 shot Lovely, who pipped Mother Mara, denying trainer Ger O'Leary, successful earlier with Yaxchilan, a double.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Townend set to keep up strike rate
Limerick and Fairyhouse previews Champion-jockey Paul Townend might strike on his only ride in Limerick, the Willie Mullins-trained Keep Up, in the RAYN Safety & Security Mares Maiden Hurdle. This daughter of Storm The Stares has raced only twice, but impressed when turning over odds-on favourite and subsequent winner Jerry From Kerry on her debut at Roscommon last August, forging clear in the closing stages to triumph by five and a half lengths. That performance earned Keep Up a crack at the listed 'Mucklemeg' at Gowran Park in October, always a competitive end-of-summer contest. And, although she failed to make an impression, she fared better than better-fancied stable-companion Carmeletta Vega in filling fifth spot behind Aruntothequeen and Mozzies Sister (a subsequent hurdle winer and placed in Grade 1 company). The strength of that form is reflected in the fact that Keep Up, twenty-three lengths clear of the sixth, finished just three-quarters of a length behind Paddy Twomey's Seo Linn, who has progressed to win a listed mares event in Cheltenham and. Grade 2 in Aintree. Sure to be well-schooled for her hurdling bow, Keep Up should prove too strong for the consistent, Gordon Elliott-trained Emily Love. Later, Kiln Time, in the familiar Bowe colours, should be noted in the Franke Dunworth Handicap Hurdle. A winner, off 81, at Naas three runs back, he has since finished third to Wyoming Baby in Cork and, last time, filled fourth spot in a handicap chase won by Riggs in Wexford. Back over hurdles here, with Cian Quirke again in the plate, Kiln Tim should reward each-way support. We also have flat action in Fairyhouse where the Ger Lyons-trained Juddmonte filly Sapphire Princess will be expected to open her account, at the third attempt, in the End Of School Year Maiden. This Kingman filly was made odds on for her debut in a seven-furlong Cork maiden but failed to cope with Dermot Weld's Bella Isabella. Dropped back in trip, she sought compensation on the same track three weeks ago but came up short, finishing third, beaten six lengths, behind City Of Memphis and Bonus Time. At the weekend, Bonus Tiem landed a six-furlong Curragh maiden while City Of Memphis, supplemented to the race, finished a creditable fifth to Laske Victoria in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas. On that basis, Sapphire Princess should take plenty of beating here, with Sun Soldier the most likely threat.
The 42
6 days ago
- The 42
Lake Victoria back to her brilliant best in Irish 1,000 Guineas
LAKE VICTORIA showed her true colours to glide to an impressive triumph in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. The 10-11 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien's filly was unbeaten at two when taking a trio of Group One events over distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile, including at the Breeders' Cup. She returned at a mile in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but connections were not far wrong when they said her preparation had been hurried and she was eventually sixth of 10 runners on the Rowley Mile. That run clearly brought her along perfectly for the Irish equivalent, and after racing happily on the rail, she accelerated away neatly when asked at the two-furlong pole and was a comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length winner from 50-1 shot California Dreamer. Advertisement
