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RTÉ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Navan victor Carmers heading for Queen's Vase
Paddy Twomey's Carmers continued to impress when booking his Queen's Vase ticket with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes at Navan. The Wootton Bassett colt won on debut just over a week ago, taking a Ballinrobe maiden by a length and a quarter with the rest of the field well strung out behind him and the runner-up. 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.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Beset and McDonogh battle back to give Joseph O'Brien third Sligo Fillies handicap victory in five years
Joseph O'Brien saddled first and third with stable debutants in the €30,000 Irish Stallion farms EBF Fillies Handicap in Sligo as Declan McDonogh extricated Beset from trouble on the inside to pounce late for victory over Fratas and Lemsairbat. Formerly trained by Henry Candy in England and carrying the 'Lady Of the Lamp' colours, the Expert Eye filly swooped to give her trainer a third win in the event in five years. McDonogh explained, "I was caught in traffic and needed luck and I had no other option but to go down the inside. I loved her attitude — she wanted to get into the gap and quickened through it nicely. "Today was all about learning about her and, hopefully, she'll progress from here. We went a hell of a gallop and she couldn't go early, but she came home well, so stepping up to a mile and a half shouldn't be a problem." The long trip from Golden to Sligo paid off for Paddy Twomey as €150,000 Arqana Breeze-Up purchase Ceo Stealth Mode made a successful debut in the Median Auction maiden. Backed into 8/11 favourite, Billy Lee's mount overcame his inexperience, coming from off the pace and ultimately, scoring, going away, by four lengths from market rival Chester Nimitz. Ceo Stealth Mode and Billy Lee win for owners Bond Thoroughbred Limited and trainer Paddy Twomey. Picture: Healy Racing "It's hard to win around here first time out, but he's a nice colt,' explained Twomey, 'He's learning on the job and that trip (an abbreviated six furlongs) would be a minimum for him. He'll go out in trip and we'll try to find a suitable winners race for him." Trainer Danny Murphy continued his impressive early-season strike-rate when Agouti Bear (Jamie Powell) dictated the pace and ran on strongly to beat Shoney by two and a half lengths in the Download The Tote App Fillies Maiden. "She's a nice filly, but has her quirks,' said Murphy, 'She dropped Jamie at the start, bit did her job well in the race. I had her sold after her first win, but the lads (the Kildare Racing Syndicate/Brogue (Taum) Racing Club) changed their mind — I 've had three horses for them and they've all won." "I'll enter this filly for a six-furlong handicap in Naas on Saturday, although I'll be entering two others as well." Gegenpressing will reappear in today's 5.20 at the Curragh in the wake of his narrow win, from an outside draw, under Chris Hayes (lost his whip) in the six-furlong Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap. Trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, the seven-year-old was repeating last year's win in the 0-60 handicap and recording his third course and distance success. Patrick Harty commented, "He's become a bit of a family pet and is a great lead horse at home. He does what he wants, but Sligo seems to be just right for him. The plan has always been to run again tomorrow — Jessica (O'Gorman) will ride him." Apprentice Keithen Kennedy took the riding honours, registering a double on Pat Fahy's You Make Me Smile, for a local syndicate, in the Apprentice Handicap and the Jessica Harrington-trained Birdie Time, a convincing winner of the finale, the APEX Controls Ltd. Handicap. Read More Jade De Grugy too good for Brightersdaysahead in Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Wannabe Royal sparks Browne McMonagle treble at Limerick
Placed in her three previous starts, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Wannabe Royal impressed when making all to take the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, sparking a treble for her trainer and stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, in Limerick. Sent straight into the lead by Browne McMonagle, the Wootton Bassett filly dictated things, skipped clear early in the straight and romped home six lengths clear of Indigo Dream. 'Dylan kept it simple,' said O'Brien's representative Michael Halford. 'She showed early pace and hit the line strong. She's a forward-goer and was entitled to win her maiden like that. She'll go another furlong and I'm sure the aim will be to get black type." The Donegal-born rider produced a tactical masterclass when completing a stable double on board well-backed Evening Blossom, wearing a first-time tongue-tie, in the Great National South Coast Handicap, dictating a steady pace and, ultimately, finding enough to beat favourite Fort Vega by a half-length. 'She's a grand straight-forward, tough filly, with a great temperament,' said the winning rider. 'She got tired the last day and came forward well. She wasn't in love with the ground but coped and, hopefully, she'll keep improving through the ranks." Browne McMonagle had to work hard to deliver the O'Brien treble, using all his strength to bring 6-5 favourite Out For A Stroll with a sustained late challenge to foil Slieve Bearnagh in the D & E Behan Handicap. 'She's lazy but tough and kept finding for pressure,' said the rider. 'It's great to get her head in front on the Flat and she should improve.' The Carriganog combination had been expected to score earlier with Hostility in the Irish Stallion farms EBF Maiden. But the 11-10 favourite lost out by a half-length to Paddy Twomey's Admiral Churchill, enterprisingly ridden by Billy Lee. 'He likes these tracks and looks a bit intimidated when he ran at the Curragh,' explained Twomey. 'His owner is based in Yorkshire and we might bring this fellow to the Dante meeting, for a seven-furlong three-year-old handicap.' Bay Colony, third in the Naas maiden in which Wannabe Royal was second last time, further boosted the form when, stepping-up in trip, she battled well to take the 11-furlong fillies maiden for Fozzy Stack and Seamus Heffernan. Three jockeys were in trouble with the Limerick stewards, Ronan Whelan (five days) and Declan McDonogh (four days) receiving whip bans while Shane Foley was handed a two-day careless riding ban. In Kilbeggan, Henry de Bromhead received a significant pre-Punchestown boost, registering a tremendous treble. Darragh O'Keeffe partnered top-weight and handicap debutante Magic Day to land the SIS Mares Handicap Hurdle and delivered the last leg when 16-1 shot Freddie Robdal proved a shock winner of the SIS-sponsored Handicap Chase. And Rachael Blackmore provided the middle leg of the Knockeen haul, on board odds-on favourite Look To The West, who proved too strong for Gaoth Chuil in the mares' beginners chase.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Grand National full race card and tips - list of runners at Fairyhouse
It's Irish Grand National day at Fairyhouse, with eight races taking place. Willie Mullins enjoyed a great day on both sides of the Irish Sea on Sunday, with Absurde leading home a 1-2 for the trainer in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton to earn him some big prize money in his battle with Dan Skelton to be crowned champion trainer in the UK. He also tasted victory in both Grade 1 contests at Fairyhouse as Spindleberry won the WillowWarm Gold Cup under Danny Mullins before Paul Townend steered Aurora Vega to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle. The Closutton maestro has two runners in Easter Monday's feature race in Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste. The previous of those looks to have a great chance in a race in which novices have a good record for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud. Another powerful owner in JP McManus also has a strong team as you'd expect with both himself and Gigginstown running four horses each. Any Second Now was second behind Intense Raffles in the race last year and even though he's now 13, he should go very close for Ted Walsh, with McManus' retained jockey Mark Walsh partnering him. Meanwhile, Johnnywho is another who could run a big race in the famous green and gold silks after finishing a neck second to Daily Present in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Here's a full list of the runners and riders for all eight races at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, as well as a tip for each contest: 2.05pm: 2m Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) 1 Arch Empire (FR) Mr J H Williamson (7)2 Whimsy O R Brown (5)3 Major Barry (IRE) Niall Houlihan4 Wonleg (IRE) Rachael Blackmore5 Putapoundinthejar (IRE) C Stone-Walsh (3)6 Kool One (SPA) I Ryan (7)7 Stuntman Steve (IRE) Keith Donoghue8 Solsbury Hill (IRE) Charlie O'Dwyer (5)9 Last Kingdom (FR) Mark Walsh10 King In Love (FR) Sean O'Keeffe11 Aurea Fortuna (IRE) Kevin Sexton12 Chosen Diamond (IRE) Philip Byrnes13 Duty Bound A Harvey (5)14 Kaptain Bay (IRE) Donagh Meyler15 Catchabird (IRE) A P Kelly (5)16 Read To Return (IRE) D King17 Aboy Joey (IRE) Simon Torrens18 Teds Corner (IRE) Phillip Enright19 Weston (GER) Conor McNamara Tip: Chosen Diamond Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 2.40pm: 2m O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (4yo) 1 Blue Lemons (IRE) Paul Townend2 Ephesus (IRE) D King3 Holy See (IRE) Philip Byrnes4 Its Bilbo (FR) Rachael Blackmore5 Messerschmitt (IRE) Kevin Sexton6 Wendrock (FR) Sam Ewing7 Preparations (IRE) Cian Quirke Tip: Blue Lemons 3.15pm: 2m6f (2m5f165y) Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 0-140) 1 Farmers Lodge (IRE) Sean Flanagan2 Oscars Brother (IRE) D King3 Win Some Lose Some (IRE) A P Kelly (5)4 Lucky Lyreen (IRE) F Brickley (7)5 Clodders Dream Sam Ewing6 Eagles Reign (IRE) T P Harney (7)7 Mordor (FR) Danny Gilligan8 Come Walk With Me (IRE) E Walsh9 Glen Kiln (IRE) Cian Quirke (3)10 Arion Soldier (IRE) Ricky Doyle11 Mywayofthinkin (IRE) Mark Walsh12 Angostura (IRE) Jordan Gainford13 Redstone (IRE) Kieren Buckley14 Hamsiyann (IRE) Rachael Blackmore15 Idefix De Ciergues (FR) Sean Bowen16 Tranquil Sea (IRE) C Stone-Walsh (3)17 Petit King (FR) Phillip Enright Tip: Farmers Lodge 3.50pm: 2m4f (2m3f180y) Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2) (5yo+) 1 Beacon Edge (IRE) Sean Bowen2 Maxxum (IRE) Danny Gilligan3 Kopeck De Mee (FR) Mark Walsh4 Colonel Mustard (FR) J J Slevin5 Eagle Fang (IRE) Philip Byrnes6 Sandor Clegane (IRE) Sean Flanagan7 Spread Boss Ted Danny Mullins8 Staffordshire Knot (IRE) Sam Ewing9 Kala Conti (FR) Jordan Gainford10 Lantry Lady (FR) Darragh O'Keeffe11 Feet Of A Dancer (FR) Sean O'Keeffe12 Gala Marceau (FR) Paul Townend Tip: Kopeck De Mee 4.20pm: 2m4f (2m3f170y) Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+) 1 Found A Fifty (IRE) Sam Ewing2 Ash Tree Meadow (FR) Danny Gilligan3 Journey With Me (IRE) Darragh O'Keeffe4 Saint Sam (FR) Danny Mullins5 Blood Destiny (FR) Paul Townend6 Heart Wood (FR) Rachael Blackmore7 Kilcruit (IRE) Sean O'Keeffe8 Rebel Gold (IRE) Simon Torrens Tip: Blood Destiny 5.00pm: 3m5f (3m5f37y) BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (5yo+) 1 Better Days Ahead (IRE) Mr Rob James (7)2 Quai De Bourbon (FR) Paul Townend3 Johnnywho (IRE) Mr Derek O'Connor4 Bioluminescence (IRE) Keith Donoghue5 Harry Des Ongrais (FR) Rachael Blackmore6 Duffle Coat (IRE) A Harvey (5)7 Favori De Champdou (FR) Danny Gilligan8 Search For Glory (IRE) Sam Ewing9 Sequestered (IRE) Jack Gilligan (5)10 Desertmore House (IRE) J J Slevin11 Malina Girl (IRE) Sean Flanagan12 Panda Boy (IRE) Ricky Doyle13 Yeah Man (IRE) Kieren Buckley14 Haiti Couleurs (FR) Sean Bowen15 Now Is The Hour (IRE) C Stone-Walsh (3)16 Shecouldbeanything (IRE) Jordan Gainford17 Sa Majeste (FR) Simon Torrens18 Any Second Now (IRE) Mark Walsh19 Lord Lariat (IRE) P J O'Hanlon20 Stuzzikini (IRE) Gavin Brouder (3)21 Tullybeg (IRE) Non Runner22 Daily Present (IRE) A P Kelly (5)23 Mint Boy (IRE) Kevin Sexton24 Dunboyne (IRE) Donagh Meyler25 Final Orders P M O'Brien (7)26 Kinturk Kalanisi (IRE) Darragh O'Keeffe27 Bushmans Pass (IRE) Phillip Enright28 Moonovercloon (IRE) B W Harvey29 Hasthing (FR) Non Runner30 Noble Birth D King31 Another Choice (IRE) Sean O'Keeffe32 Will Do (IRE) H E Sexton (7)33 Canal End (IRE) Non Runner Tip: Any Second Now 5.40pm: 3m½f (3m130y) Envirogreen Building Services Handicap Chase (5yo+) 1 Shannon Royale (IRE) Mr Rob James (7) 2 Folly Master (IRE) Keith Donoghue3 Macs Charm (IRE) Brian Hayes4 Cleatus Poolaw Sam Ewing5 Pats Fancy (IRE) Sean Bowen6 Battle It Out (IRE) Charlie O'Dwyer (5)7 Better Times Ahead (IRE) Mark Walsh8 Union Station (IRE) C Stone-Walsh (3)9 Where's Frankie (IRE) Donagh Meyler10 Stormy Judge (IRE) H E Sexton (7)11 Street Value (IRE) A Harvey (5)12 Salmanino (FR) Sean O'Keeffe13 Rolly Bowley Boy (IRE) Simon Torrens Tip: Folly Master 6.10pm: 2m Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race (4yo+) 1 I'll Sort That (IRE) Mr D L Queally2 Shuttle Diplomacy (FR) Mr Finian Maguire3 Camberwell (IRE) Mr F R Buckley (7)4 Kovanis (FR) Mr J H Williamson (7)5 Sortudo (IRE) Mr Patrick Mullins6 Jackmoon (FR) Miss A B O'Connor7 Tamberian (IRE) I Ryan (7)8 The Night Agent (IRE) Mr R Barron (5)9 Question Piege (FR) T P Harney (7) Tip: I'll Sort That
