OSTRAKA opened up a path to the valuable Joe McGrath Handicap at the Curragh when landing a competitive renewal of the Rathkenny Handicap at Navan.

Danny Murphy’s sprinter has really turned the corner as she was last seen winning over the minimum trip at the Curragh in August.

James Ryan’s mount travelled well to challenge racing into the final quarter of a mile and soon picked up the lead. She was in no mood to relent in the final furlong as she galloped in by a length and three-quarters at 15/2 for owner Anthony Challoner.

Murphy said: “We bought her in February, and Michael Halford who we bought her off will tell you as well, she has a bad back.

“This chap from Belgium used to come over to John Oxx 35 years ago and his son is better at it - I tried everybody including chiropractors since we bought her, and that owner has had some patience. It is his first ever horse.

“Philippe came in and he yanked her back and looked at me and said in a Belgian accent ‘that will either kill her or cure her!’ She was 460kg on that day and today she is 495kg.

“It is great to get a winner. We are having a disaster of a year and starting to come right now. The Joe McGrath will be the aim for her.”

Dylan double

Dylan Browne McMonagle was on the double at the Co Meath track with the first leg coming aboard Irish Rumour for trainer Jennifer Anne Lynch in the Simonstown Handicap over five furlongs.

The four-year-old filly began to make her move in the final two furlongs and progressed to lead 100 yards out. The 7/2 favourite finished well to come home by a length and a half for owners Jerry Fennell and Pat Phibbs.

Browne McMonagle said: It was very straightforward. She’s a lovely filly and had a nice run the last day in the Curragh after a little break and I rode her to get to the line and improve from that.

“Today I was confident. I was a little bit worried about the ground drying out for her over this trip, but she has got plenty of boot and, once you get her comfortable halfway, she comes good for you in the second half.”

The jockey’s brace came up in the concluding Lynn Lodge Maiden through Joseph O’Brien’s Naturally Nimble (11/4).

Sean and Bernardine Mulryan’s gelding progressed to lead a furlong down and saw out the extended 10 furlongs well to beat Dahab by two lengths.

Browne McMonagle said: “He has always been hitting the crossbar in competitive enough races. All the maidens he got touched off in, he was beaten by nice horses.

“When he was beaten here, he was beaten by Donnacha’s filly (O’Brien, Lady Doris) who went on to win the Ulster Oaks (at Down Royal).”

Marques ready for step up in class

JUST four runners went to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race and it was Grande Marques (5/2) who prevailed by a healthy two and a quarter lengths.

Fozzy Stack’s filly was ridden by Seamie Heffernan who produced her to lead inside the final two furlongs. She forged on nicely in the final furlong for a comfortable success for owners Stan and Veronica Begley.

“We’ll step her back up in grade. There is a Group 3 in Ayr in a fortnight’s time and there is a race at Newmarket quite late as well at the end of October. It is a fillies’ race over six,” Stack said.

Heffernan doubled up on Golden Ocean (4/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

This Blue Point filly delivered a sustained challenge to catch North Africa in the final 100 yards. She went on by two and a quarter lengths for owners J Kirkland and Mrs Jim Ryan.

Trainer Michael O’Callaghan said: “Jim Ryan took her home after her last run and just gave her a month at home. He gave her plenty of TLC and he gave her a break exactly when she needed it.

“He did plenty of work with her at home and I got her back a month ago in brilliant order. All I had to do was not mess her up.”

ACTIN Like A Diva sprang a 50/1 surprise for David Marnane in the Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden.

The daughter of Kuroshio was making her third start and showed improvement to finish off best of all. Nathan Crosse, in Amy and Olivia Marnane’s colours, steered her to victory close home as she passed and beat 5/2 favourite Agouti Bear by half a length.

Afterwards, the jockey said: “The first day she was doing all her best work at the end (fifth at Cork). In Dundalk, it was quite a messy race and we were drawn wide and nothing really went to plan.

“If she didn’t have her second run in Dundalk, and you pencilled that out, she wouldn’t have been 50/1 there today.”

Struck strikes again

Struck By Churchil supplemented a recent National Hunt success when taking the Gormanlough Handicap for trainer Andy Slattery and owner Brendan O’Sullivan.

Cian Horgan switched him out a quarter of a mile from home and the duo motored into contention inside the final furlong. They grabbed the lead close home and won by half a length at 11/2.

Assistant trainer Brian Slattery said: “We might have a go at the four-year-old listed handicap hurdle in Listowel, the Lartigue.

“It looks like she might scrape in off bottom weight. We definitely will have another go at a ‘65’.”