13 hours ago
Mississippi River blitzs rivals at Leopardstown
Aidan O'Brien built on his spectacular Royal Ascot treble when Mississippi River, in first-time blinkers, blitzed his rivals in the BoyleSports Smart Racecard Rated Race in 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.
