IMPECCABLY-bred colt Henry Longfellow strengthened his standing as one of the smartest two-year-olds in Europe with a ready win in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, earning himself a shot at the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

In providing Aidan O’Brien with a record-equalling 16th win in the race - and a ninth in the space of 11 years - the son of Dubawi and Minding joined an illustrious group of previous Ballydoyle-trained winners of the race, including Giant’s Causeway, Hawk Wing, Cape Blanco, Gleneagles, Churchill and Anthony Van Dyck.

Sent off the strong 2/9 favourite on the back of a smart maiden win at this venue a month earlier, Henry Longfellow stepped forward nicely and won by two lengths without being pressed to the pin of his collar, having too much for promising Joseph O’Brien-trained second Islandsinthestream.

“You’d have to be very happy,” said the winning trainer. “The good thing about today was that it was a good, solid, evenly-run race so he’ll have learned plenty. He’s got lots of speed. A classy horse who can travel and quicken. He got a bit lazy when he got to the front and Ryan caught hold of him to make him stretch out.

“He’s not short of pace but Dubawis do stay and his mother was very unusual in that she won Group 1s from a mile all the way to a mile and a half. He seems to be versatile in terms of ground too

“The next one is the Dewhurst, that’s been the plan from here. City Of Troy is going to the National Stakes. We’ll just try to divide them up. So far they look a nice bunch of two-year-olds.”

Coast looks classy

Joseph O’Brien found his father’s hot favourite too good in the joint-feature event but got the afternoon off to a flying start when Atlantic Coast created a fine impression on his way to winning the opening seven-furlong Coolmore Stud Arizona Irish EBF Maiden.

Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle for owner-breeders Al Shira’aa Farms, the newcomer by Kodiac produced a professional display to win by three and a quarter lengths at 10/1.

Browne McMonagle said: “He was really good. He’s got a great temperament, relaxes really well and took everything in his stride. When I pushed the button he quickened really well - he’s very talented. He’s been working well and has always shown plenty. He’s going to stay further without any problem in time.”

WILLIE McCreery and Billy Lee combined to execute a fine piece of training and riding as top-class prospect Vespertilio rubberstamped her Moyglare Stud Stakes credentials by readily landing the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes.

The Group 2 victory came as part of a sensational weekend for owners Al Shira’aa Farms, who were recording a Curragh double and also struck in Deauville’s Group 2 Prix Alec Head with Jannah Rose, and through Miss Dracarys in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine.

In Vespertilio, a €320,000 yearling purchase at Arqana last August by Night Of Thunder, connections have an extremely smart two-year-old on their hands. The Silver Flash Stakes runner-up to Ylang Ylang was ridden with supreme confidence by Billy Lee and quickened up impressively to score by a length and three quarters, recording her first career success in the process.

With Chesham Stakes 1-2, Snellen and Pearls And Rubies, running below their best, it was an unusual result to the blacktype contest as the first three home all entered the €120,000 prize as maidens.

McCreery, who was recording his fourth group race win of the season, said: “That was lovely. Billy apologised for sitting back last; he didn’t want to sit that far back but he said she just got squeezed early and got lit up for a few strides - he just wanted to settle her.

“They were going a good gallop and he was happy with her the whole way. She took him into the race beautifully and quickened up lovely.

“She gets a free entry now for the Moyglare and we’ll stick her in that now - I’m always trying to save a few quid! She’s a gorgeous filly with tactical speed.”

Sumiha off to smart start

It was afternoon full of bright pointers towards the future at the Curragh, and Dermot Weld got in on the act when the Aga Khan’s newcomer Sumiha came home strongly to beat 98-rated favourite Thunder Roll in the Sheehy Motors Cupra Maiden.

Chris Hayes timed his challenge to a nicety in this 10-furlong contest and led close home for a 13/2 success on the well-bred three-year-old.

“She had been working nicely and I thought Chris gave her a peach of a ride,” said the winning trainer, whose string has been in tremendous form this summer.

“She’s a lovely type; she’s just been a late-maturing filly. She’s typical of a lovely Aga Khan family, taking a bit of time and coming forward nicely. We don’t have any huge plans for now.”

GALWAY Festival scorer Youcrackmeup well and truly confirmed herself as one of the most improved three-year-olds of the season with a third win in four handicap starts in the Neville O’Byrne Memorial Irish EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap.

Having been beaten a combined total of 56 lengths across her opening three starts, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly has come on leaps and bounds this summer - progressing from an opening mark of 65 to now be rated 94.

Not for the first time, the easy-to-back 13/2 shot showed an outstanding attitude to fend off her rivals from the front by a neck under a determined Shane Foley, providing the It’s All About The Girls Syndicate with a €20,000 handicap strike.

Harrington said: “She’s as game as anything, so tough. She might make a nice three-year-old hurdler or we could look at a mile-and-a-half blacktype race later in the year in deep ground.

“Something like the Oyster Stakes at Galway could be an option. She might get into the Cesarewitch now too, we’ll see. She’s been some fun filly for her owners and we were very nearly selling her at the start of the year because she was showing us nothing.”

Binnian back on top

There was a deserved change of luck in the 10-furlong Holden Plant Rental Handicap when Slieve Binnian opened his account for 2023 with a battling success under Ronan Whelan.

The wide-margin Dundalk winner last November wasn’t winning out of turn at 7/1 for owner Paul Rooney and the training partnership of Mick Halford and Tracey Collins.

Halford said: “He only ran last week and I wouldn’t normally pull a horse out that quickly, but he didn’t have much luck in running last time and he was in such good form all week. He’s a lovely, tough, genuine horse.

“I’m delighted for Paul Rooney; he’s had a couple of placed ones lately. Paul’s dad has been unwell and Paul wasn’t able to come today. This will be a great boost for them - he’s a great supporter of ours.”

Lynch delivers

It was an afternoon of firsts for two long-standing maidens over sprint distances, starting with the Jenny Lynch-trained Dagoda in the six-furlong Bord Na Mona Recycling Maiden.

Ridden by Seamie Heffernan in the colours of Direct Bloodstock, the 11/4 favourite ran out a clearcut winner by two and a quarter lengths to get off the mark at the 24th attempt.

Lynch said: “Seamie was brilliant on her. The new connections have bought her to breed in the new year so we’ll run away with her for the autumn and see what else we get.”

Whispers speaks up

There was a similarly-long dry spell ended for Hot Whispers in the five-furlong Keeper’s Heart Irish & Bourbon Whiskey Handicap, making it 19th time lucky for trainer Denis Hogan.

It was quite an impressive two-and-a-quarter-length victory under Nathan Crosse for the Enduring Love Syndicate at 8/1, having been claimed for €5,000 five starts earlier.

Crosse said: “I thought she did it very nicely. She saved herself for the finish, which I really liked. She’s owned by a great bunch of lads, including the Clearys, who do the valeting, and a few local lads.”