JOSEPH O’Brien’s Powerful Aggie secured valuable blacktype when staying on best in the Listed His Majesty’s Plate.

Taipan went off 10/11 favourite for this stamina test over an extended two miles, but he was headed over a furlong out by Powerful Aggie (4/1) who then repelled him by a length and a half for Power Thoroughbreds PTY Limited.

Jockey Declan McDonogh said: “There was no hiding place today, it was a good gallop. I was a bit tardy out of the gates and I just wanted to get in. I had cover all the way but, when I took her out of the cover two down, she picked up really well.

“I just had to run for a furlong and a half and it was a good performance. We thought we might nick a bit of blacktype and maybe Taipan might be better than us on the day, but he wasn’t and she was really good and quickened, she surprised me how well she quickened.”

First winner

Katie McGivern saddled her first winner in the training ranks through So Majestic in the Future Ticketing Supporting Irish Handicap.

Leigh Roche had the 8/1 shot close to the pace and the duo came through to lead a furlong down. They kept on well to see off runner-up Distillate by a length and a quarter.

Owner/trainer McGivern said: “That was really, really, exciting. I usually sell winners, I never train them! I have a couple of fillies in training literally to breed from, and, if we got lucky enough, to sell on. If we are breeding from her, that is going to be a main selling point (being by Siyouni).

“She (mum, trainer Joanna Morgan) gets a phone call nearly every day when I ask what I will do next and how do I fix this problem? She’s a big influence on the whole thing.

“I learned my trade off them (mum and late father Tommy McGivern) and probably no better two people.”

CURRAHEEN Princess (6/1) bounced back to winning form in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap and provided jockey Andrew Slattery with the first leg of a double.

The five-year-old mare was in front a quarter of a mile from home and withstood a late challenge from Greek Flower by a neck for owner Tom Egan and trainer Nicky Stokes.

Slattery said: “In fairness to Nicky, it looked like she had kind of lost her way and the third at Cork the last day was a bit of a revival for her. She was good today. She’s a good, hardy mare and she has done it well.

“I thought I was going to end up further back than I actually did early on, I got a nice slot and she has travelled easy. She is fast and that is what it takes around here.”

Double up

Slattery’s double came up on Sunset Nova for his father, Andy Slattery, in the Laura Nicholas Memorial Handicap over seven furlongs.

The seven-year-old gelding came home well after arriving in the lead at the furlong pole. He passed the post with half a length in hand at 8/1 for the Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate.

Slattery said: “He was good today. He’s won nine now and he’s a right fun horse. He’s a good servant for his owners and for me too. I’ve won a lot of those races on him.

“He’s back down to a winning mark. He can’t compete with the heavy weight on his back but, when he’s right, he’s good.”

Gunz hits the target for Paddy Twomey

PADDY Twomey’s Gunzburg (5/4 favourite) put in a professional performance to get off the mark on her second start in the ELECC Maiden.

The Sioux Nation filly worked her way to the front a furlong and a half down and came in by three quarters of a length under Billy Lee in the Alymer Stud colours.

Twomey said: “She was ready to run first time out over six (when fourth at the Curragh) and all of mine come forward, and I was delighted with the progress today.

“That (Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh) will come a bit soon for her, but I think she is stakes class, and we will hopefully look for a stakes race for her in the coming weeks.”

Dun Na Sead (10/3 favourite) enjoyed herself over the flying five furlongs in the Mount Charles Handicap.

The Kildare Racing Syndicate’s sprinter disputed the lead with the gambled-on Livingston Range and held a narrow lead at the half-way stage. She showed good pace in the final furlong to win by half a length from Tamazu.

Trainer Kieran Cotter said: “A fast five seems to be the call for her alright - Tipperary, Cork and here. A stiff five she seems to be getting caught late on.

“We were fairly confident coming here today if everything went to plan. She has loads and loads of pace.”

Lia Fail and 10lb-claimer Sean Bird popped up at 25/1 in the Freixenet Pro Median Auction Maiden.

She was produced between horses inside the final furlong and got up by a neck close home.

“We brought her to Dundalk the other day and she worked very well, so we were coming in with some confidence,” said owner/trainer Mick Mulvany.

“Sean works with me and I’m delighted for him, he loses his 10lb claim now.

“He joined us early on in the year and we’ve given him a few more rides. The 10lb certainly helped and he is getting better all the time.”