A TRIP to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for Aidan O’Brien’s Tipperary maiden scorer Kellstorm who is under consideration for the Queen’s Vase after opening his account in the hands of Seamie Heffernan in Thursday’s Fundraising Events Maiden, run over a mile and a half.
Owned in partnership by T. Ah Khing, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith the 4/5 favourite headed On The Go Again early in the straight and was pushed out in the closing stages to record a one and a half length victory over Evening Hush.
Kellstorm, a brother to last year’s Irish St Leger winner Order Of St George, had filled the runner-up spot behind stablemate US Army Ranger on his seasonal reappearance at the Curragh and his trainer said: “He’s a staying horse and you’d be very happy with that.
“He could be a horse for the two mile race at Ascot and we’ll give him a race in between. He’s a grand relaxed, genuine horse.” Order Of St George, meanwhile, could also be in action at Royal Ascot, with the Ballydoyle maestro observing: “We’re aiming him at the Gold Cup.”
His soon-to-be licensed trainer son Joseph was on hand for the success of his mother Annemarie’s home-bred Fastnet Rock juvenile Ambiguity in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. It was a case of ‘The Hill versus Balldoyle’ here, with Aidan represented by the third-placed Istan, but all the money was for Ambiguity who came from last to first under Donnacha O’Brien to deliver by two and a quarter lengths from Eacharn.
The well-backed 4/6 favourite showed signs of greenness but was a ready winner nonetheless. Joseph O’Brien commented: “He’s been working really nicely at home and all the lads love him. The ground probably was slower than ideal but he’s an exciting horse and it’s nice to get him started.
“Ascot (Coventry Stakes) will be the plan eventually but there’s a race in Naas we might look at and he’ll be better on better ground.”
KILBOY STUD
The maroon silks of Shane Ryan’s Kilboy Stud made a welcome return to the number one spot in the five furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden when sported by the Eddie Lynam-trained 9/4 favourite Doc Sportello who hit the front in the final 200 yards on his way to a two length win over High Speed.
Capably handled by Oisin Orr the four-year-old had clearly improved from his initial outing at the Curragh and Lynam observed: “Because Cork was off we came here instead. He had a nice run first time out and we were hopeful. I’ll put him in a handicap now and it’s nice to see those colours back because we had a lot of winners with them over the years.”
Balbriggan-based Damian English has made a bright start to his training career and struck again with the Rory Cleary-ridden Bluesbreaker in the five furlong Book Online At Tipperaryraces.ie Handicap. His mount mastered Sweetest Taboo by half a length in the colours of the trainer’s father’s company Grougha Stables Limited.
English was represented by his brother Craig who said of Bluesbreaker: “He just ran a bit flat the last day but we freshened him up and the step down in trip suited him.” The trainer added by telephone: “He’s still raw and very green but he’s improving. I probably ran him back too quick the last day.”
Lady Giselle, from the John Joe Walsh stable, gained an overdue success for her Mullingar owner-breeder Richard Cavanagh in the €24,000 Tipperary Racecourse Celebrating 100 Years Handicap when landing a touch (7/1 into 9/2) by half a length under Chris Hayes at the expense of the favourite Ancient Sands.
“The bit of nice ground today is what she wants and a light weight on her back,” said Walsh. “She got bogged down in the ground at Limerick and was due a win. We’ll look for another little handicap for her.”
FIVE LENGTH WIN
Jim Culloty got his turn in the first of three NH races on the card when Dr Ronan Lambe’s 11/8 favourite Lake Takapuna, with Brian O’Connell in the saddle, proved five lengths too good for Baltic Voyager in the Point To Point Evening 12th May Maiden Hurdle.
The Churchtown handler stated: “He’s been running well and we’ve been looking for a bit of better ground, even better than today. He’ll go chasing, sooner rather than later and we’ll keep him going through the summer.
“He takes his races well and is a tough individual, a lovely horse and a real chaser in the making.”
Winning Armagh point-to-pointer MMD Sizer made a successful debut under rules for trainer Jim Dreaper and owner Alan Potts when taking the three mile Follow @Tipperaryraces on Twitter Maiden Hurdle by a length for amateur Jamie Codd.
The steady 16/1 shot’s success came as “a pleasant surprise” to Dreaper who related: “I bought him on the recommendation of Andrew Lynch after I saw him working one day. He won well there and he may run again this side of his summer break. Jamie said he was happy all through the race, even though he missed the last.”
Go It Alone, from the Colin Bowe yard, overcame a 15lb hike in the ratings for his eight length Thurles win with a snug follow-up in the Follow Tipperaryraces On Facebook 80-109 Handicap Hurdle. Mikey Fogarty took the ride again for the Neveronyourown Syndicate from Galway and the well-supported 11/2 chance (from 13/2 on track) triumphed, with a bit in hand, by five and a half lengths from Highest Benefit.
Said the jockey: “Fair play to Colin for persevering with him. He’s a grand horse who’ll make a chaser, but he wouldn’t want the ground (officially yielding to soft) any better than it is today. He’s owned by a great bunch of lads and I’m delighted to ride him for Colin, because I ride out for him a bit.”
ACTING STEWARDS
P. McLernon, S. McDonogh, D. Nagle, J. O’Shaughnessy, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CURLEY BILL (Noel Meade): Was given a sympathetic ride on his comeback from a very lengthy absence to finish a moderate fourth in the one mile four furlong handicap and, providing he stays sound, can be expected to come on for the run. Worth keeping an eye on.
100 years of racing
TIPPERARY is celebrating 100 years of racing this year and a photographic exhibition just inside the new entrance celebrated all the good horses who have won at the venue, before going on to achieve greater success in Group and Graded races, both here and abroad.