THE concluding day of the two-day Stradbally fixture took place in glorious sunshine at the Laois venue and the five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Kieran Roche-trained Clearisthewater (4/1), who prevailed by a length, under a strong James Murray ride, to fend off the challenge of Duffry Sea.

Carrying the silks of owner Michael Kenny, this son of Ol’ Man River was having his third career start between the flags, and his second of the season, having finished fourth at Turtulla back in November on testing ground conditions.

Clearly benefitting from a sounder surface, he was waited with towards the rear for much of the contest in a race that was run at a frenetic early pace.

Challenging three out, he moved into a share of second and stayed on gamely to the last when getting a quicker jump over the eventual runner-up.

“The lads went hard up front, so I took a pull and sat in behind them, I wanted to be handy when I jumped off, but they went too quick for my liking,” Murray said.

“The key to him was the good ground, he winged three out and stayed on very strong. He’s a game horse who will give you everything he has.”

Gorvennec’s third time lucky

Carlow handler Aidan Fitzgerald struck in the adjacent maiden with his Gorvennec (5/1), a bay son of Martaline, who was having his third career start.

Having cost €40,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale, he was a clear standout in the parade ring, and he matched that on the track where he was spotted travelling powerfully under Troy Walsh a long way from home.

He joined the long-time leader and eventual third, Chateau Elan, jumping three out, and from the run to two out he put clear daylight between himself and his rivals to ultimately defeat Bendintheriver by five lengths in the Cobajay Syndicate colours.

“He ran a few times on heavy ground and it’s good ground he wants,” the winning handler said. “He came home the last day and was coughing, but he can be a nice horse going forward on good ground.”

Our Shane shows turn of foot

Ian McCarthy sent out Our Shane (evens favourite) to land the winners’ of one contest in dominant fashion.

Having opened his account on his previous start at Tyrella back in March, the winner was looking to make it two on the bounce, and he did so in cosy fashion.

Patiently ridden at the rear for much of the contest under Eoin Mahon, the winner made eye-catching headway on the run to three out and jumped to a share of the lead. He quickly asserted on the run to two out and had the race over in a matter of strides to score by six lengths for owner-breeder Gary O’Hagan.

“He’s proved himself that he’s a horse that will win plenty of races,” McCarthy stated. “It was plenty quick for him out there today, so hopefully, he will come out of it sound now. He likes a bit of nice ground and he’s a nice horse for someone to kick on with.

“Gary has been a great owner, he’s been very patient with this horse as he just needed a little bit of time, but he proved it there. Hopefully we can get him moved on now.”

Mick’s mares do it best

HAVING won the four-year-old maiden at Ballindenisk earlier in the afternoon, Mikey Sweeney made the hour-and-a-half trip up to Stradbally worthwhile when partnering Peggy’s Rock (5/4) to victory in the mares’ open to also complete an across the card double for her handler Mick Goff.

Without a doubt the most impressive display of the afternoon, she swiftly brushed aside her rivals having ensured this was a truly-run affair. She had her rivals toiling in her wake on the run to two out and extended the advantage on the run to the last to defeat Neat Locality by 15 lengths.

The margin of victory was a lot tighter in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the Sam Curling-trained Side Show (6/1) prevailed in a thrilling photo finish to get the better of Sky Luna by a neck.

Having run consistently with two placed efforts to her name from three starts this season it was a deserved success for this daughter of Champs Elysees carrying the colours of owner-breeder James Dunne.

Positioned towards the rear and patiently ridden by David Doyle for much of the contest, she looked well held in sixth jumping three out, but to her credit she stayed on powerfully up the home straight to narrowly get the verdict.

“David is a very good rider, for a young lad he has an older man’s head on him and was very patient on her,” Liam Kelly, the stable’s representative, said.

“She always wanted nicer ground and we didn’t get it the last day when we went up the north with her. Sam was happy to come here today and James, her owner, isn’t far from here. She’s going to Doncaster, so she will be sold.”

THE Willie Murphy-owned and trained Stage Burn (7/1), a son of Sageburg, reaped the rewards of patient tactics to open his account at the fourth time of asking in the older geldings’ maiden under Luke Carberry.

Having been pulled-up on his last outing at Ballycrystal, this was a positive step forward and he showed a good turn of foot to quicken well on the run to the last to defeat Thehardandthewild by a length and a half.

“They went a right gallop and it suited him,” Murphy said. “Luke dropped him out and took his time, it was a great ride.

“Our horses were all wrong early this season and they have only come back right the last couple of weeks. He loved the ground here today.”

Horse to Follow:

Calda House(C. Bowe): This son of Telescope posted a nice effort on debut when running into a far more experienced rival. With natural improvement to come he could land a similar contest next season.