MARISE took centre stage as she came out the right side of a cracking finish to the featured 10-furlong handicap which pushed Wayne Lordan back into a slender lead at the head of the winter standings.
As she looked to record her third win at Dundalk Marise faced no easy task against several heavy weights of the polytrack scene. The relentless improver Political Policy and the 100-rated Shalaman were among her five opponents and both played their part in a terrific finale where the first five home were covered by less than a length.
In a steady contest Marise (11/4) made her challenge early in the straight and held a narrow lead from over a furlong out. Her rivals were all bearing down menacingly as the line loomed but the Marion Goodbody-owned filly prevailed by a neck from Rummaging with Policital Policy third.
“Michael [Cunningham, trainer] thought that she’d a good chance and that the trip was right for her. It’s a lovely pot to win for the owner and trainer and she’s been running consistently all winter. The light weight helped her,” said Lordan who notched up his 10th success of the winter.
DONAGH'S DOUBLE
It was a night to remember for apprentice Donagh O’Connor who registered the first double of his career and he completed his brace on Chewy Round Town (5/4) in the first divide of the Big Bad Bob Maiden. Fresh from a second to the impressive Roman Impero here last month, the Shane Donohoe-owned and trained colt made all the running.
He was pressed by both Charlies Missile and Love In The Sun heading into the last quarter of a mile but he readily shook them off and was firmly on top at the line where he had a length and three-parts to spare.
“I nearly didn’t run him tonight as he was held up for five days with a stone bruise. He’s a lovely horse and I do think that he could be very smart when he steps up to a mile,” reported Donohoe. “He’s got a great attitude and was going away from them at the end. I’ll probably sell him.”
Earlier O’Connor was successful on the Johnny Levins-trained Mr Right in the 47-65 rated Titanbet.co.uk Handicap over six furlongs. The 4/1 chance came with a steady challenge over the last furlong which carried him to a half length triumph over the strong travelling Times In Anatefka. This was Mr Right’s first success from his fourth try at sprint distances.
“He’s big and raw and I do think that he could develop into a smart horse on the turf during the summer. We’re training him differently at home and I think we have the key to him now. I’m genuinely thrilled for his owners, the Healy family, who are lovely people,” stated Levins.
The ultra reliable Split The Atom (2/1) made it three wins from his last four outings in the five furlongs handicap. The Thistle Bloodstock-owned gelding was quite at home on his first try at the minimum trip and he maintained an unfaltering tempo against the far rail while much of the action developed down the middle of the track. From early in the last furlong Donnacha O’Brien’s mount was in charge and he crossed the line with a length to spare over Primo Uomo.
“He’s very consistent and five, six or seven furlongs is no problem to him,” commented Pat Shanahan. “He’ll probably be back here for a six furlong handicap in a fortnight but I will have a look and see what’s in the UK for him. He loves the all weather.”
Donnacha O’Brien also ended the evening with a double as Stone Mountain (7-5/1) defied top weight in the three-year-old mile handicap. A first winner for the newly formed Annus Mirabilis Syndicate, who have half a dozen horses with Aidan O’Brien, Stone Mountain came between horses to deliver his challenge nearing the furlong pole. He overcame the recent course winner Spruce Meadows by three-parts of a length.
BIG IMPROVEMENT
Party Angel, who was eighth when making her debut in the race in which Chewy Round Town finished second, put that experience to good use in the second division of the Big Bad Bob Maiden. The Joe Higgins-owned daughter of Dark Angel responded to Leigh Roche’s promptings to thread her way through an opening against the rail to lead a quarter of a mile from home. Dermot Weld’s charge always looked to be doing enough to hold off the Mouse Doctor and possibly had a shade more to spare than the winning margin of a head would suggest.
“We were a little disappointed with her first run but she got very tired and she was very green. She thought that she’d enough done when she hit the front and there should be a bit more improvement in her.”
A 33/1 surprise was lying in wait in the extended ten furlongs rated race where the ten-year-old Wither Hills recaptured his best form to bag his first victory since 2014. Now a seven-times winner under both codes, the Karinga Bay gelding was given a patient ride by Padraig Beggy who produced him to lead inside the distance for a length and a quarter victory over Sharjah. “He was a bit keen over two miles here last month so he came back in trip tonight,” stated Dermot McLoughlin who trains the winner for Alan Smith. “He could go back over hurdles when the ground improves.”
An industrious winter season for apprentice Conor McGovern continued as he took the 47-65 rated Titanbet.co.uk Handicap on Temasek Star (8/1). A sixth winner of the campaign for McGovern, the five-year-old finished out his race in determined fashion to beat Brokopondo by a neck.
“It was his first time at a mile and a half and he got it well,” reported Michael Halford of the Tay Hu Chor-owned gelding. “Conor gets a great tune out of him and he’s good value for his seven pounds claim.”
Stewards’ inquiry
A stewards’ inquiry into the running and riding of Enzani, who stayed on well to take fourth in the rated race won by Wither Hills, noted the explanations of trainer John McConnell and jockey Killian Leonard.
ACTING STEWARDS
P.N. Reynolds, S. Barry, J. McGrath, J. Hunt, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CATCHY LASS (A. Mulholland): This mare stayed on reasonably well from the rear to take fifth in the rated race won by Wither Hills. She is a former winner on the polytrack and has run a number of solid races in defeat here and this effort indicated that it may not be too long before she records another success.