A HIGHLY productive season for Only Mine is getting better with every run and Joe Murphy’s charge was simply different class to her rivals in the latest edition of the Yeomanstown Stud EBF Dark Angel Stakes.

Fresh from a battling stakes success over old rival Gordon Lord Byron at the Curragh earlier in the month, the four-year-old daughter of Pour Moi enjoyed a positively leisurely triumph in this listed contest. This success has set her up for a return to pattern company, while later in the season another crack at the highest level is possible.

The strong-travelling mare was in the front rank from an early stage for Gary Carroll and she quickened impressively when asked to extend inside the last quarter of a mile. In just a few strides, the Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned 9/4 favourite settled the outcome and she could coast home late on to finish a length clear of the hardy Music Box.

Happily, Wayne Lordan and Alphabet emerged unscathed from an incident in the stalls which led to the filly’s withdrawal.

“She was always travelling well. Gary said that she’s improving all the time and the plan is now the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh next month,” said Joe Murphy. “We’ll look at the Haydock Sprint Cup, which she ran in last year. In terms of ground I think she’s fine on anything bar extremes.”

An entirely new set of options have opened up for Psychedelic Funk (4/5) who relished his first try at a mile as he ran out a commanding winner of the concluding conditions race. Last year’s Coventry Stakes third had initially tried his hand over sprint trips this season but this effort would suggest that he will really come into his own as a miler.

In a race where Geological and Seanie set a searing pace, Colin Keane looked to be hard at work on the winner early in the straight. The Sean Jones-owned son of Choisir produced quite a response and surged to the front well over a furlong from home. At the line he had four lengths to spare over Panama Hat who was running for the first time since landing a Dundalk Group 3 in October 2015.

“The first thing I’d say is what was I running him over six furlongs for?” said a delighted Ger Lyons. “When he was second to Caravaggio here in May Colin said he’ll get further. I had no idea if he would get the mile but he has and now we have lots of options with him. We’ve a horse with a future on our hands.”

SMART JUVENILE

Andy Slattery could have a smart juvenile on his hands in Emadee (12/1) who would have been a desperately unlucky loser had she not got up in the last stride of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The Zebedee filly travelled smoothly throughout this five-furlong race but was caught in a pocket shortly after halfway.

Declan McDonogh had to bide his time on the inner and his patience was eventually rewarded when Emadee got a gap 150 yards from home. Once in the clear the Countryman Syndicate-owned filly quickened well to nail Brick By Brick in the final yards.

“She’s a good filly who had been showing plenty at home, my only concern was whether she’d be too green to win today. We can take our time and look for blacktype,” observed Slattery.

The imposing Pincheck, who went up 9lbs for his third to Insayshable at Gowran Park on Saturday, took full advantage of the chance to race off his old rating in the Michael Higgins & Co Handicap over a mile. Colm O’Donoghue produced the Jon Kelly-owned colt with a steady effort that enabled the pair to overhaul the front-running Tribal Path early in the last furlong. The 2/1 favourite went on to defeat his aforementioned rival by a length and a quarter.

“I was a bit worried about the ground as he got hurt when winning at Leopardstown earlier in the season but the few showers that fell helped and Colm said he was very comfortable on the ground,” declared Jessica Harrington. “I think he’ll be a nicer four-year-old when he will hopefully grow into his massive frame.”

SYNDICATE

Flower Of May left the form of last month’s debut at the Curragh a long way behind as she struck at 14/1 in the six-furlong maiden. Darren Bunyan’s charge didn’t go ignored in the betting and from some way out the Iffraaj filly was a big threat to the favourite, Conversely. Early in the last furlong, Flower Of May got to the front for Leigh Roche and she finished a length and a quarter ahead of the staying-on Voge.

“She just got bogged down at the Curragh on her debut but she’s never shown us to be anything other than a blacktype filly and I’d have been disappointed if she was beaten tonight,” remarked Bunyan. “She the first winner for the owners (Do Well Syndicate) and the syndicate is named after a horse my father looked after who won an Irish St Leger.”

BOUNCING BACK

Mo Henry bounced back from an unplaced run at Fairyhuse on Sunday to record his second course and distance triumph of the month in the 45-75 rated six-furlong handicap. Danny Sheehy was hard at work from halfway on the 12/1 chance but Mo Henry responded willingly. From just under a furlong out he had the measure of Bluesbreaker and he held on well to defeat Doonard Prince by half a length.

“Danny was very good on him as it was hard work from a long way out. He may well go to Galway next week for a seven-furlong handicap,” commented Adrian Keatley, who trains the gelding for the Shevlin/Whelan Syndicate.

He hadn’t been at his best lately but Carrigeen Prince (8/1) returned to the form that carried him to two victories at Dundalk in the winter as he captured the apprentice riders’ handicap. Donagh O’Connor had his the five-year-old well placed to challenge from early in the straight and over the last furlong and a half Carrigeen Prince took the measure of Emperor Bob.

At the line the Prince Partnership-owned winner had a length to spare over Bo Bridget.

“He has plenty of ability and he needs a good galloping track so this place suited him well. I don’t think Galway would suit so we’ll look for something after that,” reported Garvan Donnelly.

ACTING STEWARDS

N. O’Byrne, T. Hunt, J. Weld, J. McStay, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

VOGE (E. Lynam): This filly progressed nicely from her debut run to chase home Flower Of May and she shouldn’t have any trouble winning a similar maiden soon.