THE 1/12 favourite Kyprios was a workmanlike winner of the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes under Ryan Moore.
The 2022 Ascot Gold Cup winner, owned by breeders Moyglare Stud Farm and the Coolmore partners, was pushed along in third entering the straight before coming through to lead over a furlong out to beat stablemate Queenstown by a length with Yashin in third.
The three horses had finished in the same order in last month’s Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.
“When he gets there, he just waits but Ryan was very happy with him,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.
“Ryan said he has plenty of speed left, all the speed is there, but he just pulls up when he gets there, he’s just lazy.
“The plan was obviously the two runs and then go to Ascot, if everything is well with him then.”
Stewards’ room
There was a dramatic finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap with first past the post Mo Ghille Mar demoted and the Colin Keane-ridden Encosta (6/1) getting the race in the stewards’ room.
Mo Ghille Mar came to challenge a furlong out under Keithen Kennedy in the 10-furlong contest but drifted left under the whip, causing interference to Encosta and, in turn, more seriously so to Enthralling.
Mo Ghille Mar went on to grab the lead and held the challenge of Encosta by half a length but not surprisingly an inquiry was soon announced.
The stewards took the unusual step of demoting the winner behind Enthralling, who had been eased to finish sixth, and Kennedy was given a seven-day suspension for careless riding.
“I think it was a very fair decision and I would have been very disappointed if they didn’t change it around,” said Noel Meade who trains Encosta for Seamus Hunt.
“You just can’t knock the horse down and hope to get away with it.
“She was coming back at him as well, she was almost on the ground and it’s lucky no-one was hurt.”
SCORTHY Champ (7/1) landed the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.
The flashy chesnut came from mid-division to lead at the furlong marker and went away to beat slow-starting Dahlia Noir by two lengths.
The brother to pattern winners Malavath and Knight is owned by Rectory Road Holdings, Barry Fowler and Mrs Anne Marie O’Brien.
“I thought he was very impressive,” said O’Brien. “I suppose the obvious thing is to come back here for the Tyros Stakes.
“I know he’s a Mehmas but he’s a big horse and his family were better three-year-olds. We won’t be forcing him but he looks very smart.”
Double up
Browne McMonagle doubled up aboard Feature This (15/2) in the first division of the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap
Trained by Paul Flynn for Ian Brassil and Brian McInerney, the five-year-old was making a quick reappearance after finishing fifth at Roscommon four days earlier, and wore down front-running Ferrybank close home for a neck success.
“She loves nice ground,” said the winning rider. “I rode her in Roscommon on soft ground and I thought she ran well for the conditions. It was a quick turnaround but I didn’t beat her up the last day when I knew she was beat.”
A first at the track for Rutledge
THE second division of that 50-70 rated handicap was won by 7/2 favourite Toriangel who came from off the pace to account for Rampage by two lengths and provide Siobhan Rutledge, who is sponsored by Leopardstown Racecourse, with her first winner at the track.
Toriangel was bred by trainer Sheila Lavery out of smart racemare Viztoria and is owned by her brother John.
“She’s in foal to Kodi Bear so she’s relaxing and I think it’s made a big difference to her,” said Lavery.
“I think she has two months left and because she’s in foal she’s not one I’d over-race. I’m delighted for John and delighted for the filly.”
A PIECE Of Heaven (7/2) notched his third win on the flat in the Women’s Irish Network For Racing Lady Riders Handicap.
Trained by Barry Fitzgerald for Miss A V Brann, Michael O’Dowd and Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe, the six-year-old made all to beat Whimsy by three and three-quarter lengths.
The success means that winning rider Aine O’Connor has lost her 3lb claim under National Hunt rules.
“The key to him is good ground,” said Fitzgerald. “It was a nice run before he goes to Ascot. He’ll be entered in three different races there and that’s the plan.”
First winner
Robyn Donaghue-Leahy partnered her first winner when Tudor Manor (11/1) was too good for his 20 rivals in the BoyleSports Daily Money Back Meetings Apprentice Handicap.
The eight-year-old led over a furlong out to beat Enquire Within by a length and a half.
“He’s a lovely horse. He got injured in Tramore and we couldn’t get him right for ages,” said Pat Flynn who trains the winner for his wife.
“Robyn is our apprentice and that’s her first winner. She’s from Cobh in Co Cork. She’s ridden a few seconds and she’s a good young rider.”
Ronan Whelan continued his good run of form when scoring on Ridhaz (13/2) in the Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden for Michael Halford and Tracey Collins.
Whelan produced the Aga Khan-owned colt to lead passing the furlong pole and he kept on well to post a length success over Rehearsal.
“His run in Naas last year was a decent run and I thought the form of that worked out well,” said Halford.
“A mile on good ground around here was ideal for him today and it all worked out well. Ronan is riding out of his skin at the moment, riding with great confidence.”
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