JOSEPH O’Brien’s State Of Rest kicked off this fixture with a taking debut success in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden which suggested that this strapping juvenile will be more than good enough to hold his own in smart company over the course of the summer.

A first juvenile winner of the season for the trainer and Declan McDonogh’s initial success since racing resumed, this Starspangledbanner colt picked up very nicely in the middle of the track over the last quarter of a mile.

He readily took the measure of the Ballydoyle newcomer Giorgio Vasari inside the distance and had something to spare in winning by half a length. Afterwards it was notable how long it took the rider to pull up this Long Wait Two Partnership-owned 6/1 chance and this looks another pointer to this colt’s bright future.

“I’d been riding him a bit at home and I liked him. He’s a lovely, big, scopey type of horse and in time I don’t think seven furlongs will be a problem for him. He’s got a huge stride as well and you’d like him,” reflected the rider.

Tom McCourt and Niall McCullagh made it two winners in as many days together when De Mazzaro, who had been in fine form over hurdles in the autumn, got off the mark on the flat in the first division of the 45-65 rated mile-and-a-half handicap.

The six-year-old travelled conspicuously well through the race and deservedly got off the mark on the flat as he defeated Ilikehim by half a length. The 5/2 favourite is owned by John McGovern and has the Galway Festival on his agenda; he is likely to revert to jumping shortly.

There was heartbreak for the game front runner Sharjah in the second division of the mile-and-a-half handicap as he seemed sure to collect late on only to be nailed by the 28/1 chance Oromo.

The latter was ridden by Rachael Blackmore who was recording her first success since landing the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Honeysuckle.

“He had some back surgery over the winter, which probably helped him, and he’s just an honest, one-paced horse who you have to keep going forward on,” declared Karl Thornton who trains the winner for Gary Ryan.

Murtagh team build up the momentum

JOHNNY Murtagh could have a nice sprinting three-year-old in Koolasice as who progressed from three heartening juvenile runs to trounce his rivals in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.

The 83-rated son of Kodiac, who sports the colours of Maura Gittins, was returned the 13/8 favourite and was in a different league to this opposition. Gary Halpin got him to the front less than a quarter of a mile from home and the Kodiac colt stretched ever further clear to finish seven and a half lengths ahead of Ecclesiastical.

Interestingly, this was by far the quickest of the four races run over six furlongs at this card.

Prior to this race a minute’s silence was observed to mark the passing of George Downey last weekend; the riders for the rest of the day sported black armbands in his memory.

“He had good form last year and he was entitled to do that,” stated Murtagh. “He’s a nice horse going the right way and his family tend to progress with a bit of age so I’d hope there is more to come from him throughout the year. He could go for a handicap on Derby weekend.”

Murtagh then added to his tally when Pearl Warrior (10/1) turned in a nice effort from the front in the mile-and-a-half handicap.

This Paddy Woods-owned gelding made great strides last season to win three races in succession, headed by a premier handicap at Listowel, and he looks to have returned better than ever on the evidence of this unyielding display under Shane Kelly which saw him defeat Cape Islay by a length.

A running and riding enquiry into the effort of the Willie Mullins-trained and Seamie Heffernan-ridden Mister Blue Sky was referred on as the trainer’s representative had already left the track.

“He wintered really well. We were thinking of the Ragusa Handicap at the Curragh last weekend but came here instead,” stated the winning owner, who won last year’s Corinthian Challenge. “It’s exciting times and I suppose we will be looking at premier handicaps now.”

Keane and Meade join up yet again

OUTSIDE of Ger Lyons, no trainer supplied Colin Keane with more winners last season than Noel Meade and the pair, who operated a near 20% strike rate in 2019, successfully joined forces with the well-backed Powerful Ted (4/1) in the Ballyhane Stud Maiden.

On his first outing since January, this Patricia Hunt-owned Galway bumper winner turned the mile-and-a-half race into a one-sided affair in the straight, winning by four and a half lengths.

Acquiescent credited trainer John Joseph Murphy with his first winner of 2020 in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. This 74-rated daughter of Footstepsinthesand ran three creditable races in defeat through the second half of last season and she built on them in willing fashion.

Killian Leonard got her to the front with over a furlong to run and held off the persistent challenge of the 7/4 joint favourite Lilandra by half a length. Acquiescent carries the colours of Glanmire-based owner Donal Mac A’Bhaird.

Willie McCreery also got up and running for the season when Mogwli (4/1) and Nathan Crosse secured the three-year-old 45-65 rated six-furlong handicap. The gelding, who is owned and bred by the trainer’s wife Amanda, was switched off the rail to lead inside the distance and he edged out The Cola Kid by a head.