RYAN Moore made his first ever visit to Listowel a successful one, riding a double on Tuesday’s card. Thrice won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden by four lengths for Moore and Aidan O’Brien.

Sent off 1/4 favourite, the Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith-owned colt had to work before eventually getting the job done.

Moore said: “He had a good run at the Curragh, he is still a bit babyish and was a little lost going around the bends. Once he got balanced in the last furlong and a half, he stayed going well to the line.

“It is a flat track, a bit quick and bit ridged, but the horses seem to handle it well in general. They have a heated weighing room here, which is good!”

Moore was later seen at his brilliant best, getting the O’Brien-trained Medici Venus up close to home to win the MAC Hardware & Farm Supplies Irish EBF Rated Race by a short head.

He later said of the Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier 15/8 winner: “She is still learning and is obviously improving, as I thought she had a lot on at the weights. She is still plenty green and isn’t quite sure what to do with herself.”

Unwell

In the absence of the unwell Colin Keane, Gary Carroll stepped in to win the Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes on the Jessica Harrington-trained Curvature. Sent off 5/1, the Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd-owned filly led early in the straight, keeping on to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Carroll said: “I won on her last year and, while she is a little bit tricky, she gave me a lovely ride today. The rain came, which suited her, and she liked the track and finished third in this race last year.

“She can be keen and a little awkward, but is getting better with age. The pace was nice, she quickened off the bend and got to the line well. I haven’t ridden much for Mrs Harrington, but the couple of spares I got have been lucky, so long may it last.”

McLoughlin’s patience has been a virtue

RAMIRO recorded a second course and distance success, when winning the Kelleher Feeds & Agri Suppliers Ballymullen, Tralee Handicap for Hillary McLoughlin. James Ryan produced the 8/1 chance from off the pace, to win by three-quarters of a length for owners Castle Racing Syndicate.

McLoughlin’s partner, Martin Ferris said: “He was unlucky in Galway and, while he had a few entries since, the ground wasn’t there so we bided our time and the rain came today, so it is great. The (Castle Racing) syndicate are the same lads who started me off in pony racing and this is their first racehorse. Philip Enright (jockey), who sourced him, Daithi Keane and Aidan McCarthy are all from Dunmanway and are involved and bought Ramiro to have fun with. I started off riding for the boys in Dunmanway pony racing and didn’t ride for anyone else. To win for them today is great.”

Energetic

Billy Lee rode Global Energy to win the Listowel Arms Hotel Handicap for Sheila Lavery. Sent off 5/1, the John Lavery-owned gelding led over a furlong out to win by three-quarters of a length.

The winning jockey said: “It was very smooth, he jumped nicely and there was a nice pace on, so I was happy to follow away. I got a lovely position all the way along the rail and I was biding my time turning-in, just waiting for the gaps to open, but I ended up coming around them.

“He just felt like he was doing enough in front and you’d like to think there is a bit more left in him.”

He added: “We were nearly born and reared running around here as kids, so it was lovely to have a winner for Gillian (Scott, sister) yesterday, as she had a bad accident recently. To get a winner here was great.”

DAVID Marnane won the Rose Hotel Handicap with 11/2 chance Amemri. Carrying the colours of Ms Melanie Marnane, the filly led over a furlong out, staying on well to beat Nika Pika by half a length.

Winning rider, Luke McAteer, said: “We thought this filly would have won already this year, as she won three last year and today David told me to follow Shane Foley (on Simple Endeavour) to the furlong pole, so he was spot on!

“David is at the sales reinvesting to go again and Mel owns her, so it is great. David had a nice horse who won here last year and went on to sell well and everything seems to be going well.”

Close home

Granite Bay led close home under Ronan Whelan to win the concluding Jet, Peggy & Eamonn O’Carroll Memorial Handicap for Jarlath Fahey. Sent off 9/2, the Sarah Collins-owned gelding beat Dark Oak by half a length.

Fahey later reported: “It was a great win as it was a competitive race. Ronan said he was struggling on the ground, but said once he came alive coming down the back, he was reasonably confident he would run a big one.

“We knew all along that he was a staying horse in the making, although I didn’t think it would happen in his three-year-old career. He is progressing with every run, having been very babyish earlier in the year and we’ll look for another race before the season ends, as he has proven he goes on easy ground.

“He has been schooled over hurdles at Roger Loughran’s and is well able to jump, if that’s the route the lads want to go.”