PADDY Twomey has sent some smart sorts to Killarney in recent years and Bella Blue Eyes looks another quality flagbearer for the Co Tipperary trainer after her tenacious performance to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

Owner Eddie Walsh’s three-year-old traded as big as 33/1 in the in-running markets when coming under heavy pressure as the Dermot Weld-trained Nation’s Call (6/5 favourite) loomed large on her outer. Billy Lee was strong on the 13/8 winner, though, and the filly responded in a most game fashion to emerge on top by a nose.

Twomey’s Pretty Polly Stakes winner La Petite Coco notched her first two wins at Killarney, Irish 1000 Guineas third Foxtrot Liv struck here as a three-year-old and listed-winning middle-distance performer Beamish also features among the stable’s prominent course winners.

“She was tough,” said Twomey. “She’s comfortable at seven furlongs or a mile and I think she likes a bit of nice ground.

“Hopefully we’ll step up in grade now. I would have been disappointed if she had gotten beat.”

Manna off the mark

Another well-bred three-year-old filly to get on the scoresheet was Ano Manna, trained by John Feane, in the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap.

The mount of Leigh Roche, carrying the colours of Charlotte Musgrave, is a half-sister to multiple group-placed, Rockingham Handicap winner Ano Syra and was opening her account at the sixth attempt. It was a cosy two-length success for the 11/1 shot.

Feane said: “She won well. We were disappointed the last day, she missed the break and I think the horse falling in front of her frightened her a bit. Things just didn’t work out.

“She did it well today, ears pricked, so we’ll see what the handicapper does. She won’t take racing too quickly. Hopefully she’s still better than her mark.”

CURRAGH trainer John O’Donoghue has some lofty targets in mind for classy filly Beechwood after she recorded a ready success in the William Hill Pick Your Places Fillies Maiden over a mile and three furlongs.

Ronan Whelan dictated matters on the front end on the 11/8 favourite and the Le Havre filly, owned by Glyn and Jane Davies found generously to score by a length and three quarters.

O’Donoghue said: “We’ve always held her in pretty high regard and had Limerick come off last time [when runner-up last time to subsequent 320,000gns purchase Ethical Diamond] we might have been looking at [the Irish Oaks] this weekend with the rain that’s due.

“She wants easier ground than this and we might look at some big targets later on - she’s nice. She’s in the [Irish] Leger; I like putting them in and having something to work back from. In time, she’ll be a filly of that ilk hopefully.”

Voice loudest

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over the same distance went the way of Voice Of Reason for Ger Lyons and owner-breeder Martin White.

Sent off the 11/8 favourite, the promising three-year-old looked to have a fair deal on his plate when tackled strongly by Ultra Fine and Eastmore. Colin Keane delivered a power-packed effort on the winner to prevail in a three-way photo by a head.

Shane Lyons, representing the Glenburnie team, said: “Martin is a Limerick man so it’s great that he’s after winning here. We knew he’d come on from his run at Roscommon when we were delighted.

“It’s onwards and upwards. Mentally and physically, I think he’ll improve towards better things.”

Howyoulikethat impresses

The most comprehensive winner of the evening came in the one-mile William Hill Epic Value Handicap when Howyoulikethat powered clear under Chris Hayes for Hilary McLoughlin and the Top Five Syndicate.

The capable miler was recording his first success of the season and the fifth of his career, staying on strongly from off the pace to win by three and a quarter lengths at 11/2.

Martin Ferris, partner of the winning trainer, said: “He had a nice run at the Curragh the last time [when fifth in a premier handicap] and we thought he’d do what he did today; pick up a few pounds and get into Galway.

“There is the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap as a possible option. We’re a small team and are delighted with this. Hilary rides him out everyday.”

DONNACHA O’Brien enhanced his excellent record in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for two-year-olds when Bremen built on a smart debut effort to run out a pretty decisive winner under Gavin Ryan.

In winning by a length and three quarters, the well-bred Galileo colt paid a handsome compliment to the exciting Spanish Flame, who finished in front of him at Tipperary on his only other start.

Owned and bred by the Coolmore partners, Bremen delivered as 4/5 favourite and holds an entry for next month’s Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

O’Brien has previously won this maiden with talented performers Piz Badile and Alder, while Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck also landed the same event in 2018 for Aidan O’Brien.

Ryan said: “We’ve always liked him on his homework but we weren’t sure what he was until heading to Tipperary. He showed a real nice turn of foot that day, quickening off a slow pace from out the back, and we knew coming here that we had a good horse.

“He always just does enough, he has a real genuine side to him. It’s hard to say how good he is but he’s done that very pleasingly.”

Whelan double

An opening-day double for Ronan Whelan was completed in the concluding William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Handicap over a mile and three furlongs, as the smartly-bred Ameerat Jumaira made a winning handicap debut for Mick Halford and Tracey Collins.

The first foal out of an unraced half-sister to UAE Group 1 winner North America fetched 115,000gns as a yearling and came home well to strike by a length and a quarter in first-time blinkers at 25/1.

Halford said of the Isa Bin Haider-owned winner: “We always thought a bit of her, she’s a big, tall, leggy filly and just found her handicap rating.

“She’s the first horse we’ve had for this owner and I want to thank him for his patience. She looks like she’ll improve and could make an even better four-year-old. She was always going to want a trip but she’s a filly with a great mind.”