Loterie
(Eddie and Patrick Harty)
Curragh, May 26th
Ten Sovereigns filly Loterie looks well bought at €30,000 after showing a fair deal of promise on her Curragh debut when third in an auction maiden over six furlongs. Drawn out on a wing in stall one, she made some decent late headway while shaping as though this initial experience would likely do her no harm. This was a solid introductory effort in a maiden where there were some well-touted sorts debuting, with the winner likely to be Royal Ascot-bound. (MB)
King Cuan
(Paddy Twomey)
Curragh, May 26th
The market spoke strongly in favour of newcomer King Cuan, who was available to back at around 8/1 in the early markets before returning the 13/8 favourite. However, this Tasleet colt was immediately on the backfoot after getting some stage fright when the gates opened and gave his rivals a lead. He picked his way through the field without having a smooth trip and came home nicely for fourth without being given an overly hard time once it looked like he couldn’t get on terms. This run should sharpen him up and make him hard to beat in a similar event next time. (MB)
Sea Singer
(Tom Mullins)
Curragh, May 27th
He might have only beaten one rival in the opening six-runner maiden over six furlongs at the Curragh on Saturday but Sea Singer showed definite potential and can make his presence felt when stepping up in trip. Sent off at odds of 50/1, this colt by Sea The Moon hit the line well and was only half a length off finishing third over a likely insufficient trip. He’s bred to be useful as a half-brother to US Grade 2 winner Isabella Sings and shouldn’t be overlooked in a slightly calmer maiden this summer. (MB)
Daamberdiplomat
(Johnny Murtagh)
Curragh, May 27th
Considering it was his first start of the season after a 224-day break and there didn’t appear to be any major market expectations with an SP of 25/1, promise can certainly be gleaned from Daamberdiplomat’s fifth-placed effort in a competitive three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs on the same card. He lost a position late on but that might just have been his lack of a recent run and he should be up to winning a similar event over the coming months if able to build on this showing. (MB)
Mysteries
(Donnacha O’Brien)
Curragh, May 28th
Donnacha O’Brien has made a bright start to the season, particularly with his two-year-olds, and No Nay Never filly Mysteries looks another juvenile winner in waiting for the yard after catching the eye in third on her debut in a six-furlong fillies’ maiden at the Curragh on Sunday. Out of a listed and Group 3 runner-up over a mile who didn’t run until she was three, Mysteries took a little longer than ideal to hit top gear but rattled home in the final half furlong when the penny began to drop. She should be all the better for this run next time. (MB)
Tarawa
(Dermot Weld)
The Curragh, May 28th
Dermot Weld has a filly in Tahiyra who can regularly take him to Group 1 contests this season but he may well have another one in Tarawa, who finished an eyecatching fourth to her stable companion in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The daughter of Shamardal found herself still last inside the three-furlong pole but she was travelling as well as any of her rivals.
Billy Lee had to negotiate his way around the free falling Dower House, before finding a gap on the rail, and running on for fourth, clear of the remainder. She looked good for third at least (and probably at most) and that represents a fine effort for an inexperienced filly, having just her fourth start. Like her stablemate, most of her previous form is on soft ground, but her full brother Taniyar, did most of his best work on quicker surfaces, which bodes well for the coming months. (RG)
Hallowed Star
(Shark Hanlon)
Ballinrobe, May 29th
Hallowed Star had plenty to prove going into the Mayo National, having failed to complete on his three previous starts, but he bounced back with a brave effort from the front at Ballinrobe, only giving way at the last and eventually finishing nine lengths off the winner Tullybeg.
This was much better from the eight-year-old, who remains a lightly-raced chaser with more to offer. Undoubtedly all roads will lead to Galway for him - three of his four wins have come at Ballybrit - and while he’ll likely have to win to get a run in the Plate, the ‘Blazers’ is a nice option for him. (RG)
Fruit Blossom
(Gordon Elliott)
Ballinrobe, May 29th
Considering she was 4lb out of the handicap, Fruit Blossom was essentially racing off a 12lb higher mark than what she faced for her previous win at Wexford when she finished an admirable fourth in the valuable McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe on Monday.
In a significant rise in class and on her first try over the extended two-mile-six-furlong trip, the seven-year-old mare boxed on really well for Danny Gilligan, and this represented another step forward for her. She has been progressing well on her last five runs, and will only have to compete off 1lb higher for her next start. (RG)
First Dare
(Liz Doyle)
Ballinrobe, May 30th
First Dare never looked comfortable in the two-mile John Monroe Memorial Mares Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe on Tuesday, with Sean Flanagan niggling her along just to keep in touch, so it was a fair effort that she managed to come through strongly to take fourth on the short run in. This was a second good run for her in a row and she could progress again, being a five-year-old with just five starts over hurdles. Either a stiffer test over two miles or going further in distance could help her travel a little better. (RG)
Gradulations
(Andy Oliver)
Fairyhouse, June 1st
Gradulations took a step in the right direction when second to Dancing Tango at Fairyhouse on Thursday. Possibly enthused by the first-time cheekpieces, Andy Oliver’s filly bounded into a clear lead in the straight, only to be caught comfortably by Dancing Tango inside the final furlong. In hindsight, Ben Coen may have held on to his mount a little bit longer but in any case she may have bumped into another very well handicapped older filly from Owning Hill. This was a very positive run for a filly that promised plenty last season, evidenced by the fact she went off 3/1 favourite for an Ulster Oaks off a mark of 82. (RG)
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