AT a track where he excelled as a jockey, Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a day of days as a trainer as he reeled off his first treble and the centrepiece of his evening came courtesy of the classy True Valour in the Group 3 Ballychorus Stakes.
Murtagh has steadily been building towards another fine campaign and one of his flagbearers is undoubtedly the talented True Valour who finally got his turn at pattern level following a success of good efforts since his victory in the Celebration Stakes a year ago.
The Qatar Racing-owned four-year-old, a graduate of the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, was the 7/4 favourite to land a race that his trainer rode the winner of on three occasions and he enjoyed a smooth passage under Chris Hayes before delivering his challenge with two furlongs to run.
It didn’t take True Valour long to get to the front and, in first-time cheekpieces, he stayed on strongly to defeat Smash Williams by two and a quarter lengths. Unfortunately the race was robbed of a fascinating contender in American Pharoah’s brother, St Patrick’s Day, who was withdrawn on veterinary advice after getting upset in the stalls.
“I’m delighted he’s won a Group 3 as we always thought that he was a group horse,” said Murtagh. “His big aim will be the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes on QIPCO Irish Champions Weekend which he was second in last year.
“We’ll keep him going before then as he does thrive on his racing. That’s Chris’s first ride for me. He’s been annoying me for rides for five years and then I give him my best horse!”
Favourite backers were dealt quite a reversal in the opener as the Murtagh-trained Parkers Mill (6/1) turned over the 2/11 chance National Guard in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The front-running Parkers Mill, whose career began with a fourth to Van Beethoven at Naas last month, was tracked by the favourite from the outset and that one loomed up menacingly with over a furlong to run. However, Niall McCullagh’s mount never looked likely to be headed inside the distance. He prevailed by a length.
“We always thought that he was a very nice horse and he ran well the first day at Naas,” declared Murtagh, who trains the winner for Paul Smith. “He’s a very straightforward horse and he’s big too and maybe we will give a little time and see can he develop into a nice horse over seven furlongs around July or August time.”
The treble was brought up by the Conor Hoban-ridden Circling Moon (8/1) who made it two wins from as many starts for the trainer in the one-mile, seven-furlong handicap.
The Paddy Woods-owned gelding had just a 5lb rise to contend with for scoring at Gowran last month and he revelled in the step up from a mile and a half. Circling Moon came home three-parts of a length in front of Touch Of Gold.
“It’s been one of the great days and I’m delighted for everyone. It’s a pity Shane Foley is suspended but I’m sure he’ll be happy for everybody and Conor is an important part of the team for us,” commented Murtagh.
“On a sad note Valerie Keatley got a bad fall this morning and she was knocked out but hopefully she’ll be alright and I’m going to call into Naas on the way home to see her.”
DROP IN CLASS
The regally-bred Scriobh Nua, who contested the Irish 1000 Guineas last time, took advantage of a significant drop in class in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The Jackie Bolger-owned daughter of New Approach, whose dam has already produced a trio of Group 1 performers, got to the front for Kevin Manning with a quarter of a mile to run. The 4/6 favourite crossed the line with four and three-quarter lengths to spare.
“The form was there and she will go into a listed race now and hopefully we can upgrade her. She’ll stay a bit as well so hopefully she has prospects,” commented Jim Bolger.
Top Othe Ra (10/1), who has the Galway Hurdle as his objective, produced a tremendously game display to take the amateur rider’s maiden for Tom Mullins and Finny Maguire.
The 10-year-old spent three years on the sidelines at one stage of his career but has been busy making up for lost time and this was his fifth success in the last 11 months. Top Othe Ra was pressed by the strong travelling Nessun Dorma with over a furlong to run but refused to yield en route to a half-length triumph.
“The Galway Hurdle is the plan. I’m not sure if he will run over hurdles before then and we might instead go for a flat handicap,” reported Mullins, who trains the winner for his wife, Helen.
A thoroughly well-deserved victory came the way of Aussie Valentine who ended a winless spell stretching back to April 2015 in the 10-furlong Fitzers Catering Rated Race. The seven-year-old, who has been placed in four runnings of the Irish Lincoln, was providing young apprentice Thomas Sherry with the third success of his career.
Aussie Valentine (8/1) slipped the field rounding the last bend and then maintained a steady tempo to deny the Murtagh-trained Near Kettering by a length and a quarter. The winner is owned by Gary Devlin and Joe McCrory.
“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve had a rough five or six weeks,” stated Ado McGuinness who was registering his first victory of the season. “He’s only been out of the money once since we bought him for 12,000gns last autumn. He’ll go for more of the same and he’ll probably run over hurdles at some stage this summer.”
The useful Bucky Larson (5/1) followed up his maiden win over this course and distance a month ago in the one-mile, three-year-old handicap.
The Sean Jones-owned son of Footstepsinthesand made his challenge on the outer for Colin Keane with over a furlong to run and he steadily moved ahead of Rapture’s Delight before holding the oncoming Insignia Of Rank by a neck.
“He’s a lovely, timid horse and taking your time on him and coming wide suits him. He’s a lovely individual who will get a mile and a quarter in time. He’s growing up and I think there’s more to come from him,” reflected Ger Lyons.
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, P. Reynolds, L. Crawford, Mrs V. Cooper, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ANGELORUM (W.T. Farrell): This Dark Angel filly progressed from her debut outing to finish a respectable fourth to Scriobh Nua in the seven-furlong maiden and she can surely do better again. It may not be that long before she makes her mark.