JOSEPH O’Brien took the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap for the third time in four years as Expressova made a successful start for the Owning Hill yard.

The Exceed And Excel half-sister to four winners won at Cork last year for Sheila Lavery and was snapped up by the Expressova Partnership for 135,000gns in December.

The 7/2 shot, fitted with a hood for this seasonal debut, was still towards the rear early in the straight but picked up really well when asked for her effort by Wayne Hassett asserting in the final 100 yards to beat Gypsy Woman by three quarters of a length.

“I’m pleasantly surprised. She had been working nicely but she’s a bit keen and not the most straightforward,” said O’Brien.

“She was carrying a very light weight and Wayne gave her a lovely ride. She settled well for him and quickened up well. I thought she did well to win and hopefully she’s a filly that can progress.”

Newcomer

O’Brien was expected to complete a double with Dollerina in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden, but the 4/5 favourite could find no extra in the closing stages and had to settle for third as Ameilya got on top in the hands of Seamie Heffernan to score by a length and a quarter over promising newcomer Bint Al Dandy.

“She ran in Limerick last year and the ground was probably a little bit too quick for her. She got hurt after that and I left her alone as she’s a big raw filly,” said James Barrett who trains the 16/1 winner locally for his wife Orla.

“I said to Seamie to be sympathetic on her first run of the season and she came home well. I think she’s a filly that can get blacktype.”

The son of Sea The Stars and chief market rival Thor’s Hammer had the race between them in the straight, and Lee just pushed out his mount for a comfortable three and a half lengths verdict with a yawning 12 lengths gap back to The Expert in third.

“He’s probably more comfortable at that seven or a mile. I thought being a Sea The Stars that we should step him up in trip and it looks like that was the wrong thing to do.

“His mother was quite quick and was a stakes-winning Siyouni filly over five and a half and it looks like he has that sort of pace,” said Twomey of the Mohammed Ahmad Ali Alsubousi-owned winner.

Touched off

Lee went close to partnering a double in the Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap where top-weight Cardinal Zin was just touched off in the closing strides by Action Plan.

The 22/1 outsider in this nine-runner mile event was going one better having filled the runner-up spot behind the highly regarded One Look at Cork last month.

The Soldier’s Call gelding is trained by Ger O’Leary for the Purosangue Racing Syndicate and winning rider Shane Foley commented: “He’d a nice run in Cork and handled the ground well that day. Ger’s horses have all been running well and it’s nice to get a winner.”

GAVIN Cromwell recorded a treble over hurdles at Bellewstown and made it an across-the-card four-timer on the day as Madame Plaintiff, available at 14/1 in the morning and sent off at just 5/1, led well over a furlong out under Robert Whearty in the Dining Packages At Gowran Park Handicap to beat Victor’s Choice by two and a quarter lengths for the Dunphy/McCarrick/Hughes/ Brennan Partnership.

“The plan was to be a bit more forward, but I was a little bit slow away and there was no point in forcing her. I probably got there too soon but wasn’t expecting her to pick up as quick. She is probably a filly that will go a mile,” said Whearty who was unharmed after being unseated when his mount jinked on the bend after the line.

The Pat Kelly-owned Summer Snow also justified good support in the Thomastown Handicap with the 3/1 favourite (8/1 overnight) confidently ridden by Colin Keane to lead a furlong out for an easy two and three-quarter lengths win over Adhuil.

Winning trainer Michael O’Callaghan was away at the Doncaster Breeze Up Sale and the champion jockey commented: “She travelled through the race nicely. Michael thought that she had been working nicely at home and if she brought that she would be very competitive. She’s in again at Naas on Monday so he’ll probably get her out again soon.”

Rumi returns

Edward O’Grady was full of praise for renowned Fethard veterinary surgeon Gerry Kelly after Rumi (16/1) made a successful return from nearly a year on the sidelines in the mile and five-furlong handicap.

Cian Horgan’s mount showed a good attitude when holding off Valleyoftheeagles by a head, although the 7lb claimer picked up a day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency.

“I thought he’d broken his neck when he fell in Ballinrobe, but it turned out he’d broken his shoulder. Gerry Kelly operated on him and took out a piece of bone that was bigger than a golf ball.

“We just gave him time and it’s incredible to get him back like that,” said the winning owner/trainer.

“He was impressive the first day he ran over hurdles in Listowel and then I was a little bit disappointed with him.

“He only ran once more over hurdles, but I think he’s a better horse now. He could run over hurdles at Punchestown next week and we’ll see how we go from there.”