LAUGH A Minute added to Ado McGuinness’ ever-increasing stakes race haul as he posted his best effort since arriving on these shores with a clear-cut success in the Listed Sean Barrett Bloodstock Stakes at Cork last Saturday.

A decent field went to post for the first blacktype sprint of the year in Ireland but Laugh A Minute (16/1) proved to be much the best as he showed much improved form from his comeback at Dundalk in late February.

The Gavin Ryan-ridden gelding just needed some daylight to make his bid entering the last quarter of a mile in this six-furlong affair but when he got into the clear he picked up very smartly.

The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned six-year-old led around 150 yards out and he defeated the 103-rated Fiscal Rules by two lengths.

“His work at home has been very good and we said we’d bite the bullet this year and go back to listed races. He is a good horse and he had group form before we got him,” said McGuinness.

“Gavin said he put the race to bed in a few strides and I’d say he will stay in stakes races now. I’m blessed to have a good bunch of horses.”

There was another capable sprinter on show in the three-year-old five-furlong handicap where Logo Hunter (15/2) made it two wins from three starts for Michael Browne since he was picked up for a mere 5,000gns last autumn.

Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount started to take charge of this race heading towards the furlong marker and he kept on well to defeat Mooneista by three parts of a length.

Good horse

“We got his wind done, a hobday, and that was his problem. In fairness to Ger Lyons, he said if you got his wind sorted out he’s a good horse. He is owned by a Mayo man Patrick Moyles and he’ll probably be sold now,” commented Browne.

“I don’t want him sold and would love to go to Navan for the Committed Stakes later this month but we’ll be trying to sell him for the owner.”

In the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over the minimum trip Mick Mulvany’s It’ll Do My Day, who was second in the first two-year-old maiden of the season at the Curragh, made his previous experience count.

The 7/2 chance lost the lead to the well backed newcomer Castle Star well inside the last furlong but he rallied splendidly for Gary Carroll to force a bobbing finish and he edged the verdict by a short-head.

“Gary said he got lonely in front and if he went another furlong he’d have won easier. He was giving us the right vibes all along and I knew he was a good horse so it’s onwards and upwards,” reported Mulvany who trains the winner for his father Larry.

THE notable support Paddy Twomey has enjoyed from Team Valor in the formative stages of his training career is proving well founded and the pair combined to land the Listed Irish Stallion Farms Noblesse Stakes with Moll.

This mile-and-a-half affair saw the reappearance of the Group 1-winning Princess Zoe but she could only manage ninth as the finish was fought out by two lightly-raced types in Moll and Fleur De La Luna.

On her first outing since contesting the Oaks Trial at Naas last July, Moll (6/1) stole through on the inner of her rival with a furlong to run. After getting to the front, the 100-rated daughter of Camelot kept on well to carry the day by a length and a quarter.

“She was fourth to Even So at Naas last year and was only beaten three lengths but got injured. If there is an ease in the ground she’ll run in the Munster Oaks back here in June,” reported Twomey.

“She has the ability to go all the way but she has been physically immature and everything she is doing, she is doing on natural ability.”

The relatively lightly-raced four-year-old, Aesop, produced a nice effort to win a useful looking mile-and-a-quarter handicap on his first start since August although this race was overshadowed by a chilling incident in the straight.

Comfort Line and Dylan Browne McMonagle took a crashing fall with over a furlong to run and brought down the Wayne Lordan-ridden Persian Queen but happily both horses and jockeys emerged unscathed.

For his part, the OTI Racing-owned Aesop (7/1) came with a strong charge from the rear over the last couple of furlongs to account for Aiseirigh by half a length. The winner could develop into a stayer of some quality this season and big handicap could be within his grasp.

After enduring a run of five straight runner-up finishes last season, the Ger Lyons-trained Colour Sergeant enjoyed a deserved change of fortune on his first outing of the new season as he edged a cracking finale to the 10-furlong maiden.

Colin Keane’s mount was not found wanting in a last-furlong tussle as he edged out the odds-on Modus Operandi by a neck. Given that he was placed in three maidens that were won by subsequent Group 1 scorers last season, this Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman was a thoroughly worthy winner.

“He’s versatile in terms of the ground and the further he goes the better he will be. He should get a lot of confidence from that,” declared the trainer’s brother Shane.

Whelan family enjoy success

THE card began with two divisions of a 45-65 rated handicap over seven furlongs and the first of these provided Ronan Whelan with a victory to cherish as he teamed up with Roxette, in the colours of his mother Kathleen.

On her second start for Michael Halford, this 18/1 chance made most of the running and enjoyed a two-and-a-quarter-length success over Musalsal, prevailing in the manner of one that could be adding to her tally.

“I only have her a while. Ronan’s dad, Tom, had her in pre-training and did a lot of the work with her so I didn’t have an awful lot to do. You’d be entitled to think that she could improve throughout the year,” reflected Halford.

The other division produced a shock winner as 50/1 chance Strategic Fortune rediscovered the form that carried him into second in a Curragh handicap a couple of seasons ago. Wayne Lordan’s mount could be picked out travelling nicely heading into the furlongs and he got on top inside the distance to prevail by a length and a quarter.

“He was on his last chance today as he has been a bit disappointing in general but has plenty of ability and the little ease in the ground seemed to help him,” observed O’Shea.

DURING the course of the day the stewards received a report from veterinary officer Nicola O’Connor in relation to the behaviour of Daniel Dunne, authorised representative for trainer Katy Brown, towards her in the stable yard. Evidence was heard that Mr. Dunne departed the stewards’ room prior to the conclusion of the inquiry. The stewards referred both matters on to the IHRB Referrals Committee as they could not conclude the enquiry.