ONE of the most interesting recruits to Irish racing for 2022 duly made a winning return to action when Hannibal Barca kicked off his career with Joseph O’Brien with a victory in the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes.

A very promising juvenile with Brian Meehan for whom he was beaten less than two lengths into fourth in the Vertem Futurity, Hannibal Barca (7/4) was then sold for 500,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

On this evidence this colt looks an exciting recruit for owners Ecurie Ama Zing Team after coming out on top in a tactical affair. From the turn in Hannibal Barca was travelling smoothly on the outside of the leaders for Shane Crosse and he got on top inside the distance. By contrast Boundless Ocean got no luck or room to challenge at any stage and, when the winner drifted right in the course of making his challenge, it was the final nail in the coffin for the first-named. He did eventually secure third but it was Hannibal Barca’s day as the 111-rated colt prevailed by a length from the impressive Gowran maiden winner Lyrical Poetry.

“We just had a little hold-up so we ended up starting today and I’m delighted to get the season started off nicely with him,” said O’Brien. “Thank you to Mick (Donohoe) for trusting me with him and hopefully he’s a horse that can go forward. I thought Shane gave him a very good ride and it was a good performance. I’d say it will be Ascot or the Irish Derby next.”

Although out of luck with Lyrical Poetry Johnny Murtagh, Ben Coen and Ballygallon Stud did strike with the 79-rated Navagio in the Cavalor Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs.

The 4/1 shot, who was reverting to maidens following two solid handicap efforts, showed a fine attitude over the last furlong and a half to fend off the 6/5 favourite Admiralty Place by a short-head. The winning rider did pick up a six-day whip ban for his efforts though and also picked up three further days’ worth of whip bans earlier on the card.

“He’s a horse we’ve always liked and hopefully he can keep progressing because he works better than this rating,” reflected Murtagh. “Mentally he’s probably still a little immature but that should do his confidence the world of good.”

The evening concluded with a victory for the progressive Dame Rapide (7/1) and Luke McAteer in the William Hill-sponsored handicap over a mile and three quarters.

Barry Fitzgerald’s charge brushed aside an 11lb hike in the ratings for scoring at Leopardstown a week previously to run out an easy three-and-a-quarter-length winner over Echoes In Rain. A step up to stakes level and the long term aim of the €600,000 Irish Cesarewitch are among the options under consideration for the Elmir Habibovic-owned five-year-old.

The Crown fits for Murphy to land colossal handicap pot

A NEW-LOOK Guineas meeting featured a colossal prize money pot as the feature last Friday and it was Joe Murphy’s Celtic Crown and Wayne Lordan who bagged the €150,000 William Hill Emerald Mile Handicap.

The Robert Moran-owned five-year-old, whose previous wins came at Gowran, Killarney and Ballinrobe, had started off with two solid efforts for the Murphy yard but she took her form to an entirely new level here.

In a hugely competitive 27-runner affair, Celtic Crown stuck close to the pace throughout and it paid to be prominent in a race where the tempo was never that frenetic. Celtic Crown was in the firing line from some way out and at no stage was she found wanting.

The 28/1 chance fought her way to the front inside the last furlong and kept on bravely to defeat fellow lightweight No More Porter by a length and a quarter with the favourite Haziya short-head away in third.

“She’s a very genuine, honest filly and loves racing. We don’t have her long but loved her the day we got her. We’re lucky to have Robert Moran as an owner.

“He’s a big owner to have and we’re delighted to have our first winner for him,” reported Murphy. “It was a good race, we got in and took our shot and I’d say we will stick to handicaps with her for the moment.”

Stack double

Wayne Lordan was also successful on a smart looking juvenile which came in the shape of the Fozzy Stack-trained Papilio who made a winning debut in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over six furlongs.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner was entered in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes on Derby Weekend two days prior to this contest and further evidence of the regard in which she is held was supplied by the market as she was backed from 12/1 into 9/1.

In the colours of Emily Magnier, Papilio got into contention around a quarter of a mile from home and she kept on strongly over the course of the last furlong to score by a length and three parts.

“She’s a nice filly and wasn’t getting any fillies’ allowance there. She’s worked well consistently and Wayne liked her. We might come back here on Derby weekend with her,” said trainer Fozzy Stack.

My Eyes Adore You (4/1) brought up a double for the Stack yard in the William Hill-sponsored fillies only six-furlong maiden. A canny Andy Slattery took his time on the Linda Shanahan-owned daughter of Profitable who was produced with her effort inside the distance and got home by a neck from the newcomer Aratori. “She was a bit disappointing early in the year as I’ve always had quite a high opinion of her,” commented Stack. “She had a very good first run behind Markaz Paname in Cork but it’s been a bit downhill since but hopefully she’s back on track and riding her that way seems to suit her well.”

Vellner much too good

BILLY Lee’s excellent form continued with a double which began when Paddy Twomey’s Vellner (11/4) took the William Hill Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden over 10 furlongs where Waterville was beaten at odds-on for the third time in three starts.

The Colin Lynskey-owned winner shook off the market leader with over a furlong to run and stuck to his task well to hold off World Famous by a length and a quarter.

The winner had begun his career with two promising runs in decent middle distance maidens at Cork.

“He’s been very green up to now but he’s a lovely horse and I’d say this is only the start for him. I thought coming here today it would take a good one to beat him,” remarked the trainer.

The Lee double was completed aboard the Michael Grassick stalwart Verhoyen (17/2) in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap over seven-furlongs. The seven-year-old dominated this race from start to finish as he broke alertly, opened up a commanding lead and was unchallenged to defeat his 17 rivals by six and a half lengths in the colours of Paul Cullen.

“He’s competitive when he gets back down to a mark in the mid-80s. I said to Billy if he got the break to send him and ride it like it’s six furlongs as there was a tailwind behind him and nothing was coming from behind today,” observed Grassick.