HUGO Palmer has enjoyed some memorable days at the Curragh in the past and he brought off another successful raid on these shores as Brad The Brief landed the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.

A winner of a Haydock conditions race on his debut for Palmer earlier in the month, the Chasemore Farm-owned and bred gelding progressed again to record a hard fought half-length success under William Buick.

The Dutch Art five-year-old found himself in front from around two furlongs out and then had to dig deep for William Buick to hold the late challenge of Mooneista.

However, this wasn’t quite the end of matters as Brad The Brief (9/2) did drift right under a right handed drive and carried Mooniesta with him which led to an enquiry but after a deliberation of some minutes the stewards, correctly, allowed the result to stand.

“Two weeks ago he ran for us for the first time at Haydock and beat Glen Sheil going away and he’s beaten him further today. Today he has really lengthened away when the other horse has come to him and the first two have pulled clear of a multiple Group 1 winner (A Case Of You) so it’s a pretty good performance,” declared the trainer’s travelling head man Peter McCulloch.

The talented Raise You made an impressive return to action in the Listed Hanlon Concrete Orby Stakes which suggest that Joseph O’Brien’s charge is on the cusp of becoming a major force at a mile and a half.

The Jonathan Palmer-Brown and Brian Gleeson-owned six-year-old ended last year with an impressive win over this trip and he once again looked the part at this much stronger level of competition.

In a race run at a strong gallop, Raise You arrived full of running for Shane Crosse shortly after turning in and the heavily-supported 5/2 chance went on to record an impressive three-and-a-half-length victory over stablemate Okita Soushi.

“Settling and going up in trip has been the making of him on his last couple of runs,” declared O’Brien. “He’s a very enthusiastic worker at home so I was maybe a little reluctant to go up to this trip with him but it seems to suit him very well and maybe the best is still to come from him.”

Blackbeard puts them all to the sword

THE talented Blackbeard took his tally to three wins from as many starts and is now firmly on course for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot after running out a decisive winner of the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes.

Ryan Moore kept things simple on the 5/2 shot by going straight to the front in this six-furlong contest and he then began to wind up the tempo approaching the last two furlongs.

An impressive change of gear inside the last quarter of a mile had the evens favourite Tough Talk toiling in vain as Blackbeard kept on strongly to defeat that rival by three and a half lengths.

“He’s coming forward with every run and he quickens well and relaxes well,” remarked Aidan O’Brien who was winning this race for the 11th time this century.

“We weren’t sure whether he would stay the six furlongs but Ryan was confident he would and we ran him here to see whether he was a Norfolk or a Coventry horse. The Coventry looks very possible for him now.”

Ger Lyons introduced a nice juvenile in Hellsing (11/2) who made a winning debut in the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden over six furlongs.

This Teme Valley-owned son of Dandy Man, whose half-brother Navagio won here on Friday evening, took up a forward position from the outset and showed a lovely attitude for Colin Keane when it mattered.

He responded well to the champion jockey’s promptings to get the better of the favourite and fellow newcomer Congo River in the closing stages for a half-length success while there was a further neck back to McCauley’s Tavern.

“We’ve always liked him and now he has won first time he will have to back it up before we start getting high about him.

“He’s done it well though and was very green for one of mine. His aim is the Goffs Million back here in September,” commented Lyons.

Royal promise

Johnny Murtagh has Royal Ascot in mind for Mashhoor (7/1) who is looking an increasingly astute recruit for his yard after dominating the 10-furlong William Hill Handicap in the style of a horse who could make his mark at a higher level.

A 40,000gns purchase from a Shadwell draft at a horses-in-training sale and a close fourth in a good handicap at Cork on his Irish debut over Easter, the Brunabonne Syndicate-owned gelding ran riot here under Shane Kelly.

He squeezed through against the far rail to take charge of this race approaching the last furlong and he shot clear, giving a four lengths beating to Safecracker.

“He ran very well on his first run for us and I’d say he’s a horse with plenty of class. He’s won nicely there and I’d say we’ll head to Ascot now where he has a few handicap options,” reported the trainer. Murtagh brought up a double as Chicago Bear (13/2) and Ben Coen led home 25 rivals in the William Hill-sponsored 50-80 rated handicap over a mile.

The Samuel Mencoff-owned son of Siyouni arrived late on the scene to strike the front inside the distance and the line arrived in time for him to withstand the late charge of Morning Approach by a neck.

The lightly-raced four-year-old was recording the second success of his career and was building in promising showings on his first two runs this season.

Another horse who has Ascot in his sights is Fiach McHugh (3/1) who landed the FBD Hotels And Resorts Handicap over seven furlongs. This smart three-year-old only affair could be the springboard to a Britannia Stakes for the Mary Harney-owned son of Belardo who struck for Andy Slattery senior and junior.

After defeating a Group 3-placed filly to win his maiden at Dundalk before then chasing home the smart Ivy League at Naas, the winner boasted strong credentials. He responded well to pressure to lead inside the last furlong for a three-parts-of-a-length victory over National Gallery.

“We gelded him in February and that was the making of him. He’s a smart horse and I don’t think going back to a mile will be a problem so we’ll look at the Britannia now,” stated the trainer.