JOHNNY Murtagh has been worth following at Gowran Park in recent seasons and he was again among the winners teaming up with stable jockey Ben Coen for a double with Greatest Drama and Glen Princess.

Greatest Drama (11/4) showed the benefit of a promising debut at the Curragh last month when just getting the better of an exciting final furlong duel with Mint Candy in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The Barnane Stud homebred daughter of Night Of Thunder stayed on gamely under Coen to get the verdict by a nose and Murtagh said: “She was after having a good run against the colts and that looked a very good race, so we were coming here with a bit of confidence.

“Ben said she’s still a bit green, she is still learning on the job and hopefully there is a bit more to come. I’m delighted for the owners who have supported us over the last couple of years and she should be able to do one more this year.”

Glen Princess added to a maiden win here in June with a decisive success in the Membership At Gowran Park Fillies Claiming Race for owners Rachro.

The 5/2 chance was ridden to assert over a furlong out and kept on strongly to beat Makaiah by five and a half lengths and the Curragh trainer commented: “She likes it here and it looked like a winnable race if she ran to her form. Ben said she travelled very well and quickened up well.” There were no claims for any of the 10 runners afterwards.

Monumental makes good strides to win for Lordan

THE powerful Ballydoyle team, just denied earlier with Mint Candy, didn’t have to wait long to gain compensation as Monumental quickened up nicely inside the final furlong under Wayne Lordan for a comfortable two-and-a-half-lengths victory over the Murtagh-trained Tashir in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden.

“He’d a good run the last day at the Curragh and the form has worked out well. Wayne thought that trip suits him well as he has plenty of pace and can travel off a good speed,” said stable representative Chris Armstrong of the 11/8 winner.

“He’s got a host of options now and is definitely a stakes horse in the making. Maybe something like the Flying Scotsman at Doncaster or he could wait for the Legacy at Dundalk.”

Joined forces

Billy Lee and Henry de Bromhead, who landed the valuable Sky Bet Ebor Handicap with Magical Zoe at York last month, successfully joined forces again as Marakesh (9/2) made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Dr Peter Fitzgerald-owned daughter of Decorated Knight failed to load on her intended debut at the Curragh just 10 days earlier but there were no dramas on this occasion as she led about a furlong out and got well on top in the closing stages to beat Supreme Success by two and a half lengths.

“She was very straightforward, travelled well and got me into a lovely position. I was just waiting for a gap to open in the straight and when it did she picked up well and galloped out to the line. She put it to bed easy and was green, having a look, so you would like to think stepping up to a mile would bring more improvement,” said Lee.

Vivenda earns a ‘Champions’ date

VIVIENDA could be aimed at the HKJC World Pool Autumn Fillies Handicap at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend after challenging between horses and keeping on under pressure for Colin Keane to beat fellow 5/2 joint-favourite Four Blondes by a neck in the Golf At Gowran Park Handicap.

The Showcasing filly is trained for Juddmonte by Ger Lyons whose brother and assistant Shane said, “She is really thriving and has turned into a lovely filly.

“Colin is adamant that a step up of a furlong would suit her even better and she’ll go on quicker ground, albeit that’s beautiful ground out there.”

Thrilling finish

The same €100,000 mile handicap at Leopardstown could also be on the agenda for September Leaves after the Moyglare Stud homebred just came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap.

Shane Foley’s mount just held the late surge of Gandolfo by a short-head and Kate Harrington, assistant trainer to her mother Jessica, said: “She’s been threatening her last couple of runs and it’s nice for her to get her head in front again.

“She’s in the new fillies’ handicap on Champions Weekend off bottom weight and even with a penalty there will possibly need a few to come out in order to get in.

“It would be nice if she did get in there as she loves fast ground and Leopardstown.”

Birthday present

Kinda Tiny provided trainer Tim Doyle with a winner on the eve of his 60th birthday in the other mile handicap on the card, the Societies Welcome At Gowran Park Apprentice Handicap, asserting inside the final 150 yards under Wayne Hassett to beat Cherry Pink by three lengths.

“From now on I hope will be her time as an ease in the ground suits her and the rain that came was a help. There is not much of her and that’s why she has her name but she’s all heart,” said Doyle of the 13/2 winner, owned and bred by his wife Claire.

The widest margin winner came in the concluding Racing Again September 21st Maiden where 5/4 shot Mr Percy, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, ended a run of second places when prominent throughout and driven clear from over a furlong out to beat Winter Fog by seven lengths.

“We got it easy on the front end and he’s a lovely, relaxed horse so I didn’t want to break his momentum as he stays well. He stretched out well to the line and is a nice horse,” said winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle.