HELVIC Dream, who provided Noel Meade with his only Group 1 winner on the flat when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup here in 2021, turned back the clock to record his first win since when comfortably landing the odds in the featured Tote, Never Beaten By SP Amateur Riders Derby at a Curragh meeting rescheduled from the previous week and which only got the go ahead after two inspections.

The six-year-old gelding looked to have an ideal opportunity here at the weights and Patrick Mullins sat motionless on the 4/6 favourite until finally asking for an effort inside the final furlong, where his mount kept on well to beat Coeur Sublime by three quarters of a length with Lord Erskine a further length and three quarters back in third.

“He enjoyed himself and travelled away through the race. He doesn’t do a lot in front and I didn’t want to hit the front two furlongs out,” said Mullins, who picked up a four-day careless riding ban as his mount edged slightly right across Lord Erskine when hitting the front.

Finbar Cahill, who owns the winner in partnership with Tom Hendron, is looking forward to a career over hurdles and Mullins added: “He could be a Supreme Novice horse. I think he used to be very keen but he was very settled there in a messy race and if they want to try that (hurdle) avenue I’m sure they could. I’ll have to put my name in the hat for the ride!”

Powell

Jamie Powell has one hand on the apprentice championship trophy after moving onto the 27-winner mark for the campaign aboard Greek Flower in the Download The New Tote App Handicap. Trained by Johnny Feane for Reggie Roberts, the Australia filly followed up a recent win at Navan when getting on top in the closing stages to beat Mercurial by a length.

Powell was four clear of Adam Caffrey going into Dundalk yesterday evening, with Luke McAteer and Conor Stone-Walsh five back.

“She won well again and the last day gave her a bit of confidence,” said Feane of the 9/1 winner. “She flew through that ground and it’s nice for Jamie going for the apprentice title. She’s in again on Sunday so we’ll see how we go.”

Bittersweet day for Hassett after costly suspension

THE All Rogues Have Friends Syndicate were out in force to greet Tiscommonknowledge after taking the Tote.ie Nursery.

Wayne Hassett’s mount made headway to challenge between horses under two furlongs out and, despite wandering about inside the final furlong, the well-backed 10/3 chance kept on well to beat Mo Ghille Mar by four lengths.

“J.P. and Noreen (McManus) were kind enough to give us two fillies last year. I got a syndicate for one and my father got a syndicate together for this one,” explained winning trainer Padraig Roche.

“The step up in trip suited her and she went through that ground well. She was a weakish filly but is improving the whole time and we’ll have a bit of fun with her next year.”

Hassett appeared to have completed a double in the Tote Fantasy Handicap after Alfalfa got the better of Kermiya (11/1) by a neck. However, his mount came across the track appearing to make contact a few times with the Aga Khan’s homebred filly and the places were reversed following a stewards’ inquiry.

Hassett was given a 12-day careless riding ban and, added to an eight-day ban for a similar offence the previous day at Galway, will now miss most of the winter season in Dundalk.

Kermiya’s rider Ben Coen said: “She’s a big, raw filly and probably next year is her year as she’s still a bit weak. I got a bit of interference in the last furlong and a half which didn’t help but it’s nice to get a win under her belt. She loves that ground.”

Fine ride

Rodney Bay, trained by Joe Murray for his wife Lisa Sheridan, benefitted from a fine front-running ride by Leigh Roche in the concluding Tote Guarantee Available On Course & Tote.ie Handicap, although the 22/1 shot only just held off the late surge of Make Good by a short-head.

“I bounced out and got an easy lead and in fairness every time I’ve asked him he’s kept plugging away,” Roche said. “He handles that ground and he stays well but he idled in the last half-furlong and I thought I was nabbed.”

RONAN Whelan fondly reflected back on his days as an apprentice after renewing a winning association with trainer Joanna Morgan as Merisi Diamond, sporting the colours of Davey Brennan, justified strong support in the Follow @Toteracing On Twitter Handicap.

Available at 13/2 overnight and supported into 5/2 favourite, the giant gelding led inside the final furlong to beat Blue Peak by three and a quarter lengths.

“It’s great to get one for Joanna and a long time between drinks since I had one for her,” Whelan said. “She was very good to me as an apprentice and is as sharp as ever. She gave me strict instructions, we were anxious to get him in behind and try get him to switch off.

“For a big horse he’s still quite babyish and timid, and he’ll be a lovely horse for the spring next year when he gets the soft ground.”

Aidan O’Brien introduced yet another useful juvenile as Samuel Colt (5/2) took the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Irish EBF Maiden. The son of No Nay Never was never too far from the pace in this six-furlong event and found plenty when asked for his effort by Seamie Heffernan, drawing clear inside the final 150 yards to beat Eclipse Emerald by four and a half lengths.

O’Brien was represented by Chris Armstrong who said: “Seamus was very positive about him. He wasn’t in love with the ground but his class got him through it. When the penny dropped, he really lengthened and he’s another lovely colt for next year.

“He’s a big, strong horse and his trip should be six or seven. I think we’ll see a better horse on better ground next year.”

The other maiden on the card was also won in decisive fashion as Alalcance galloped on strongly from over a furlong out under Nathan Crosse to beat Time To Tell by four lengths in the Tote Now Online At Tote.ie Fillies Maiden.

“She was only just touched off in Bellewstown and this galloping track suited much better,” said Jessica Harrington, who trains the 10/3 winner. “She’s a lovely big filly and will be a lovely four-year-old but she’s in the sales, so we’ll have to see what happens.”