JESSICA Harrington’s Going Remote shed his maiden status in some style with a two-length victory in the €100,000 BoyleSports Ulster Derby at Down Royal on Saturday afternoon.
Nathan Crosse partnered the 11/2 chance and the duo raced towards the rear in this extended mile and a half assignment before they made headway approaching the final two furlongs. Further improvement saw them lead on the run to the final furlong and they saw it out well in the closing stages for the Blessingindisguise Partnership.
Crosse said: “I rode him previously in Navan and we thought he would get the trip - obviously, he did there today. I couldn’t fault him at all, very happy. We were going along and he got into his comfort zone, he came down the hill and got rolling and hit the line well.
“I’m delighted to get that. Shane (Foley) is obviously suspended there today. He had a light weight and it was great to get the call up and get to deliver.”
Opening leg
Lady Doris (5/4 favourite) was the first leg of a double for Gavin Ryan in the BoyleSports Irish EBF Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap, in the colours of Mrs Treasa O’Loughlin and Mrs M.V. Magnier. Donnacha O’Brien’s filly had work to do in fourth in the final quarter of a mile, but kept finding for Ryan to get up by a short-head on the line from Fiver Friday.
Ryan said: “She’s just one of those, she is never going to win flash and does the bare minimum. She was second in her maiden (at Dundalk) to a Ribblesdale winner (Port Fairy) and probably a shade unlucky, she got first run on her.
“I knew I had everything covered, it was just a case of trying not to get there on my own too soon. We got there too soon the last day in Fairyhouse, it was a long way home and we’ve got collared late on.”
Lily Hart enjoyed a step up in trip to an extended mile and a half in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden for three-year-olds.
Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo filly went off 5/6 favourite and stalked the leader Yes Oui Si. Ryan sent her on three furlongs from home and she stayed on well to beat Dark Oak by six and a half lengths.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “She had a lovely run the last day at the Curragh (in second) and the run at two stood to her for experience.
Stamina is her forte and she is extremely genuine. She will go even further and we might have a look at the Stanerra Stakes (Group 3 at Naas in July) for her. She will get one mile six furlongs for fun.”
BILLY Lee rode a confident race on former Grade 3 mares’ novices’ hurdle winner Magical Zoe in the Jack Murphy Jewellers Maiden, and the six-year-old mare was far from troubled in putting her rivals away by a margin of two and a quarter lengths.
Once he switched her out for daylight, the 1/4 favourite tanked into the lead a furlong down and readily strode in for owners Patrick and Scott Bryceland.
Lee said: “Henry (de Bromhead) was just a little bit worried about the ground being a bit lively. She seemed to handle it fine. She’s a classy mare over them, she travelled lovely.
“He just wanted to keep it as easy as possible. He said ‘try and ride it like a bit of work’ and I was trying to just keep her as easy as I possibly could, so she won with plenty in hand.”
Explorers Way (17/2) produced a winning move under James Ryan to take the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap over an extended 10 furlongs.
Made headway
The five-year-old gelding made headway over a furlong out and hit the front 150 yards out before seeing off Dabana (10/1) by half a length for the HumptyDumpty Syndicate.
Trainer Pat Martin said: “The form of his last run (third at Navan) has been franked. He’s a grand horse and it just took us a while to get to know him.
“This is our first winner from our new base in Tankardstown, halfway between Navan and Kells, so it is great to get the first winner.”
JOHN McConnell’s Calmafterthestorm cut down Son Of Hypnos in the Mount Charles Handicap over an extended mile and a half.
Son Of Hypnos set a good pace and was intent on making the best way home, but Calmafterthestorm came from well back to grab him close home. She delivered by half a length at 33/1 from the 11/2 runner-up.
Jockey Siobhan Rutledge said: “She really did (come home nicely) - they went a very strong gallop, first run in a handicap and she showed plenty of signs of greenness.
“I think she will improve from that. In fairness, there were some tight gaps and she was very gamely through them for a horse who was fairly green on turf and up in trip.”
Willie’s Dream
Willie McCreery’s Dream Ticket left a run of unplaced efforts in the rear-view mirror when obliging at 20/1 in the Watch Racing TV With Free Trial Now Handicap over an extended 10 furlongs.
The 20/1 shot was hampered early and lost her position, but made good headway racing to the final furlong and ran on well to win by half a length at 2/1 for owners Sarah Hyland, Joseph P Burke and Oghill House Stud Limited.
Jockey Leigh Roche said: “We went good and hard and there was a big panic for the first two furlongs, and I just got a little shuffled back on the rail.
“She didn’t like being hustled and bustled, so I travelled away nicely. I came there and switched out down the straight, and she picked up nicely and did it well.”