TARAWA, for the Epsom Oaks-winning connections of Ezeliya, stole the show at Leopardstown on Thursday, impressively dismissing her seven rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes.

Upped in trip to nine furlongs for the first time in this listed contest, the daughter of Shamardal was sent off the 2/1 favourite in the famous green and red silks of the Aga Khan.

While initially settled behind the leaders by Chris Hayes, the 104-rated bay was sent to the front after three furlongs and dictated matters from there.

Pushed along early in the straight, the market leader soon skipped a few lengths clear and extended her advantage when ridden, coming home two and a quarter lengths to the good.

“She has a lot of group blacktype and I wanted to win a stakes race with her. Winning over that trip opens up a lot more opportunities,” Dermot Weld commented.

“I left it [riding plans] to Chris. I said sit handy and there wasn’t a lot of pace on so he decided to go on and it was the right thing to do.”

Timourid on top

Hayes and Weld later had to settle for the runner-up berth with Livio Milo (3/1 favourite) in the 1888 Restaurant Handicap, as Timourid claimed this seven-runner affair.

Trained by Paul Flynn and ridden by Joey Sheridan, the now seven-time victor was strongly pressed by the market leader from the furlong pole.

However, the 13/2 chance (from 16/1 early) battled on gamely in the closing stages and was half-a-length to the good at the post.

“The ground was perfect, they have done a great job. He doesn’t like it too firm,” Flynn said of the Galway Girl Syndicate-owned seven-year-old. “He’s been a great servant, a little legend!”

PORTLAND showed a likeable attitude on his first try over a mile and a half, completing a quick double for Aidan O’Brien in the King George V Cup.

As short as 5/6 in early shows for this listed contest, the Dubawi colt eventually went off the 13/8 favourite under Ryan Moore.

After racing mainly in third, the 107-rated victor was pushed along to challenge on the outer early in the straight, gaining a narrow lead from the furlong pole.

While strongly pressed by the well-backed Kinesiology (9/4 from 9/2 early) in the closing stages, the market leader pulled out more when required, prevailing by a neck at the line.

“We thought he’d appreciate stepping up to a mile-and-a-half,” stable representative Chris Armstrong remarked.

“He could go for the King Edward at Royal Ascot or there is no reason why he wouldn’t get the mile-and-six in the Queen’s Vase.”

Story shines

O’Brien and the Coolmore triumvirate earlier claimed the opening Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden with Bedtime Story, who overturned her odds-on stable companion.

Out of dual Group 1 winner Mecca’s Angel and not unsupported at 5/1 (touched 9/1 early), the Wayne Lordan-ridden victor swept through to lead inside the final 100 yards and came home a length and a quarter to the good.

Returned the 8/11 favourite, Giselle was briefly short of room on the turn into the straight, but ultimately had every chance under Ryan Moore and had to settle for the runner-up berth.

“There wasn’t much between them at home, and it was a tough choice for Ryan,” Armstrong disclosed.

“Before the race they were both in the mix for the Chesham and you can’t really take much away from Ryan’s filly. We’ll see how they come through this.”

COMPLETING a hat-trick, Glor Tire provided 18-year-old apprentice Gabriella Hill with her first success in the BoyleSports Best Odds From 8am Handicap.

Successful at Gowran on Monday, the Jim Bolger-trained homebred was well-fancied to follow-up and was returned the 11/8 favourite.

From a family steeped in racing, Hill looked assured from the outset aboard the Jackie Bolger-owned filly, as they dictated the pace from the front. The likeable three-year-old kept up the gallop all the way to the line and came home a length and a quarter clear of the staying on Arch Enemy.

“We thought she had a good chance and she picked up well, I couldn’t believe how well she was going,” Hill enthused.

“My great grandmother was Charmain Hill [owner of Dawn Run] and we’ve always had a couple of horses at home and have a few in training at the minute.”

For his part, Bolger added: “I’d say she’ll run again on Saturday [at Navan]. It’s a long time since I won three in a week!”

Ryder success

Hill was earlier beaten into second after attempting to make all on Bold Approach in the Leopardstown Golf & Driving Range Apprentice Handicap.

Shane Ryder’s No Hassle did the needful in this extended-mile-and-a-half contest under Scott McCullagh, scoring by a length in the colours of the Eyre Racing Partnership at 6/1 (from 12/1 early).

“I had it in mind to go schooling her over hurdles so we might just put that on hold for a little while,” Ryder said.

Kieran Cotter also believes Koniag (9/1) has a future over flights, after he claimed the concluding Legacy Wine Bar Handicap under Declan McDonogh.

Bred by Gigginstown House Stud and owned by Knobel, McGrath, Kilmichael Racing, the 58-rated winner ultimately stayed on best in the closing stages, getting up in the final strides to deny Artful Approach by a neck.

“He was a bit backward at two and was always going to improve as a three-year-old,” Cotter reflected.

“We fancied him a bit coming here and he’s a horse that you wouldn’t mind running over hurdles in time.”