JIM Bolger has made the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes his own in recent times and the trainer made it six wins in nine years in this nine-furlong Group 3 as Speirling Beag ran out an ultra-game winner under Rory Cleary.

The Gowran Park maiden winner turned in a cracking effort to be placed in the Weld Park Stakes last time but even better was to come here as she belied her position as the 25/1 rank outsider as she stepped up in trip and tackled the colts.

In quite a dramatic finale, Gulf Of Mexico ran off the last bend somewhat and tightened up several of his rivals and shortly after this the Ennistown Stud-owned Speirling Beag made her way to the front for Rory Cleary.

Hiawatha, who was one of the chief sufferers in that interference, gathered himself for another effort and actually made his way to the front inside the last furlong.

Speirling Beag came again though and in a bobbing finish she was fractionally in front at the line.

Travelled well

“She travelled well for me and was very game. There was a bit of scrimmaging on my inner in the straight which left me in front sooner than ideal but she kept picking up and found more when the second horse came to her. It was lovely to ride a filly like her,” commented Cleary.

The admirable Saltonstall (6/1) notched up the ninth success of his career as he showed much of his old dash in landing the Ann Hartnett Celebration Handicap over a mile.

The Dooley Thoroughbreds and Bart O’Sullivan-owned gelding had the entire field to pass turning for home but a cool Adam Caffrey produced him an unfaltering charge over the last quarter of a mile which saw him get on top late on for a three-parts of a length triumph over Soilse.

Legend

“He’s a legend of a horse. He grows a leg on this soft ground and Adam was very good on him too. He showed lots of his old spark there so we’ll have him back for next year and I suppose you’d be thinking in terms of starting off in a Lincoln,” said the trainer.

The final leg of this year’s Corinthian Challenge Series went to Fiona Dowling who partnered the Gavin Cromwell-trained Vera Verto to victory.

The winning rider, who is part of the team at RACE and led up Silver Birch when he won the Grand National 15 years ago, was building on her runner-up finish in the second leg of the series at Gowran last month.

Victory in the overall standings went to Stan Begley who finished third on Clear Quartz having previously landed the second leg in the series at Gowran last month.

Pivotal brace for Keane title bid

COLIN Keane bagged a crucial double to move one ahead of Billy Lee in the jockeys’ title and his brace began when Power Under Me opened up a whole new vista of options for 2023 by landing the Listed Knockaire Stakes over a mile.

After starting the season with a listed win at Cork over six furlongs, the Vincent Gaul-owned son of Mehmas showed that he was very comfortable on his first try over this trip as he came good under a ground-saving ride form the reigning champion.

Power Under Me (17/2) stole through on the inner to head the front running 40/1 outsider Freedom Of Speech inside the last furlong and he got to the line well to defeat Emporio by a length and a half. This was the third time in four years that Ger Lyons has won this race.

“He’s very ground dependent and he’s been a little disappointing on his last few runs so we rolled the dice hoping that the ground and the new trip would suit and he got the mile well,” stated the trainer’s brother Shane. “Now that he’s won over a mile it opens up a lot of options for next year.”

Keane brought up his double on Michael O’Callaghan’s King Arthurs Sword (7/1) in the 50-80 rated Manguard Plus Handicap over 10 furlongs.

A lightly raced 11-race maiden, the five-year-old had shaped well at Dundalk recently and took a step forward with a determined effort that saw him get the better of Fanore in the closing stages.

“It’s been a long time coming and he’s a horse who has had his issue but Colin was happy with him. He has had an issue with his wind but that has been sorted out and I’d say we’ll try hurdling with him again,” stated the trainer.

Tarawa shows classic promise

DERMOT Weld was looking forward the classic trials next spring with the Aga Khan-owned Tarawa (5/2) who was a commanding winner of the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

As she looked to build on an encouraging debut fifth at Cork last month, the daughter of Shamardal quickened very smartly for Chris Hayes to move to the front entering the last furlong and into a good lead. At the line, she had two and a quarter lengths to spare over the newcomer Bold As Love.

“She was impressive and she’s a lovely filly with a lot of pace. My only concern beforehand was whether the ground would blunt her speed,” said Weld.

“She’ll be a lovely filly next year and will hopefully start off back here in a classic trial next spring.”

It looked as though a Rosewell House double could be on the cards when Livio Milo came with a sweeping charge to strike the front inside the last furlong of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.

However, the front-running Aidan O’Brien representative Mohawk Chief (17/2) proved a determined opponent and fought back splendidly for Seamie Heffernan to get back on top late on and prevail by a head. “He had an okay first run in Listowel (seventh to Tiverton) when Wayne liked him. He’s come forward plenty from that and will be a nice horse to start out in a Guineas Trial next year.” remarked the trainer’s representative Chris Armstrong.

Delightful made it a double for O’Brien and Heffernan in the Fillies Nursery Handicap. The daughter of Galileo made all in this seven-furlong contest and was resolute. The 2/1 favourite reached the line three-parts of a length ahead of the tough top-weight Aurifodina and never looked like being headed.

“She had three lovely maiden runs and a rating of 86 looked fair enough. She got a lovely ride from Seamie and I’d say we’ll have her back for a Guineas trial,” remarked Chris Armstrong.