AIDAN O’Brien, Wayne Lordan and the Coolmore partners teamed up for a double when taking both divisions of the Conference & Banqueting At Limerick Racecourse Maiden with Bomberg and Flight Of Fancy.

Bomberg was sent off an easy-to-back 11/2 shot on his belated debut but the son of Siyouni belied any lack of market confidence when motoring home on the outer inside the final furlong to get the better of 8/11 favourite Vadali by a length and a quarter.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said, “He’s a massive, big horse who has just taken time and is still carrying plenty of condition. Wayne was delighted with him and said he was still plenty raw but travelled into it nicely.

“We thought he might be a seven-furlong or mile horse, but Wayne thinks he’s somewhere between a mile and a mile and a quarter, so he gives you plenty of options. We’ll see how he comes out of it and make a plan but he’s one to look forward to.”

Obvious claims

The 94-rated Flight Of Fancy held obvious claims in division two of this mile event and the 8/11 shot was prominent throughout before leading over a furlong out.

The daughter of Galileo quickly asserted for Lordan and kept on well to beat newcomer Newtown Duke, who put in some eye-catching work in the closing stages, by a length and three-quarters.

Armstrong said: “She had the form in the book and the plan was to come here to act as a nice confidence booster before the Cairn Rouge at Killarney in 10 days’ time and try to get the blacktype. This race fitted the schedule nicely. Wayne kept it simple and it worked out lovely.”

DYLAN Browne McMonagle was another rider in double form when successful aboard both Linger For Longer and Newfire at combined odds of 109/1.

Linger For Longer followed up a win at Tipperary last time when taking the opening Tote Never Beaten By SP Rated Race, the 9/1 chance leading well over a furlong out before holding off the challenge of Imperial Dream by half a length.

“Six or seven is her trip and maybe a bit easier ground. I had notions of taking her out this morning, but the ground just changed in time (officially Good),” said local trainer Austin Leahy of the Irish Equine Syndicate-owned mare.

Newfire, trained by Ray Cody for his wife Gillian, completed the double in the Bar One Racing Handicap, making good headway in the straight to lead a furlong out and keeping on well to beat Apollo Prince - a first ride under rules for Alexandra Egan - by a length and a half.

“She didn’t finish off the last day, but I knew she was better than that and Ray has freshened her up and had her in top shape. I decided to take our time today and it worked out really good as she loved coming through the middle of them.

“They stopped in front of me but in fairness to her, she stuck her head out and got to the line well. The bit of rain this morning also helped her,” said Browne McMonagle of the 10/1 winner.

On the scoresheet

Ronan Whelan was out of luck earlier on the odds-on Vadali but got on the scoresheet aboard La Vita Nova who showed the benefit of a promising debut at Navan last month when taking the 1m3f Savoy Collection Median Auction Fillies Maiden.

The daughter of Gleneagles, trained by Jessica Harrington for William Crager, made headway in the straight to lead over a furlong out and kept on well to beat Cancelled by three-quarters of a length. Whelan said, “She got a lovely introduction the first day and you could see the step up in trip would suit her. She was still a bit green when she hit the front but it’s great to get that winning bracket for her and Jessie and the team will decide where she goes next.”

BARROGSTOWN Girl (16/1) was friendless in the market on her handicap debut in the mile and three-furlong Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Apprentice Handicap but came from an unpromising position early in the straight under Neve Bennett to collar Struck By Churchil in the closing stages. Bennett was subsequently handed a two-day whip ban by the stewards.

“It was her first time over the trip and on a dry surface. She’s like a lot of them she’s been handicapped on soft ground, and we were hoping the dryer ground would work in her favour,” said trainer Jarlath Fahey. I said to Neve to try and get her home over the trip and not to go after her until you get over the top of the hill. She hit the line strong.

“She’s home bred by the brother Mick and he’s away with all the family in Salou so I dare say there will be some strong stuff drank over there tonight! Her dam won over hurdles, and you would think up in trip won’t be a problem. She’s still green and a bit raw.”

Stamina

Curious Bride (7/1-9/2) showed stamina is her strong suit when leading a furlong out before staying on strongly under Colin Keane to beat Believe In Science by three and a quarter lengths in the two miles and a furlong Private Suites At Limerick Racecourse Handicap.

“We’ll probably keep her to the flat and find another two-mile race for her. She doesn’t jump great and jumps left a lot. She wants really good ground, and we can tip away with her for the summer and also go on the all-weather,” said Eamonn O’Connell who trains the well-backed 9/2 winner for Sheoda Racing Partnership.