ADRIAN Murray continued his rich vein of form on the Polytrack with a double courtesy of Pedro Nunes and Umala, both owned by Amo Racing Limited and Giselle de Aguiar.

Newcomer Pedro Nunes (11/2) was partnered by Billy Lee in the seven-furlong maiden and tracked the leaders in the early stages. Improving into second from halfway, he was sent on over a furlong out and kept on to see off Never Ambling by half a length.

Amo Racing representative Ryan McElligott said: “Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) were hoping coming here that he would run a nice race. He produced a lovely performance and we think he is a nice prospect.

“Obviously, you would love if there was a nice conditions race over the same sort of trip or six (furlongs) even. He could sharpen up and go back to six.”

Trip does the trick

Colin Keane then made all on Umala in the fillies’ maiden over an extended 10 furlongs. The 2/1 favourite kept up the gallop in the final furlongs to hold Lady McC by half a length.

McElligott said: “She was quite green and raw when she ran here (in third) over a mile back in February. We definitely felt the longer trip would play to her strengths.

“She’ll have no problem going a mile and a-half and she loved that surface, so you’d think a nice sound surface at the height of the summer would be no problem to her.

“There’s the Yeats Stakes in Navan next month – it’s a mile and five (furlongs) listed, and that’s an option. There’s a median auction winners’ race in Roscommon as well in mid-May which could also work.”

Keane follows up

Beauparc rewarded strong support to seal a double for Keane in the handicap over a mile and a half. Backed from 7/2 in the morning down to 10/11 favourite, the money proved well founded for the Free Eagle filly.

Keane sent her about her business over a quarter of a mile out and she strode away by a length and three quarters for owners Peter and Mark Gleeson.

Trainer Gerry Keane said: “She was flying the last day (in second) and another stride she would have been up, I thought she was up. After that, we said she probably would get the mile and a-half.

“She’s a nice size of filly and she might jump a hurdle down the road as well. I was a bit worried with 10 stone but if a six-time champion jockey is not worth 7lb around here, he is not worth using!”

JESSICA O’Gorman partnered a welcome winner aboard the John McConnell-trained Bungle Inthedesert (12/1) for owners Eileen and Noel Heanen in the apprentice handicap. Tracking the leaders in the early stages, they improved into second in the straight and went on over a furlong out to beat Saxon Kingdom by a length and a half.

“I had about a year out,” O’Gorman reported. “I’m only back going now, so it is good to get one on the board and hopefully we can keep going.

“John (McConnell) said he thought he had a nice chance, ride the race as I find it and try to come home as well as I can. He’s very easy to ride for. I’m in with Eddie and Patrick Harty and getting on great there, they are very good people.”

Perfectly poised

Brigid’s Cloak justified favouritism in the six-furlong handicap for Johnny Murtagh and the Nick Bradley Racing Club. She paid heed to the leader Eric Lock and Rory Mulligan steered the 7/4 chance to the front with more than two furlongs to race. The daughter of Havana Grey opened up in the final furlong to score by three and a half lengths.

Mulligan said: “She pinged the gates with me and I got up into a lovely position. She was consistent and I’d say the claim off her might have just helped, she might be just a little bit high in the handicap. The cheekpieces probably helped a bit as well.”

COLLECTIVE Power (7/2) landed the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap over six furlongs two years ago and repeated the feat with Sorcha Woods in the plate this time.

The seven-year-old travelled strongly in touch behind the leaders in the straight and made his move outside the furlong pole. He finished well to lead in the closing stages and sailed in by half a length in the colours of Sabena Power.

“It has been a while since he won,” trainer Eddie Lynam commented. “He won this race off 67 (in 2023) and he’s 82 today. “The horse runs for her [Sorcha Woods], she gets on very well with him. Those colours are always good to win with.”

A welcome surprise

Pat McKenna’s Hezahunk sprang a 50/1 surprise off the front in the six-furlong handicap. He was quick away for Patrick McGettigan and made all before holding Jackandthefox by half a length.

“He jumped very well,” said McGettigan, who sported the Canter Club Syndicate colours. “I had an okay draw in six, but around here you have to be sharp away to get into the position you want.

“He took me everywhere and I couldn’t believe how well I was going turning in.”