THE day two feature was the John McGuire Handicap, which went to 7/2 joint-favourite Soaring Monarch in the hands of Niall McCullagh.

Basil Holian’s seven-year-old tracked the leaders and went on two furlongs out to account for Scholarship by two and three-quarter lengths.

The Free Eagle gelding, four times a winner for Peter Fahey, is now trained by Alan McIntyre, who was completing a productive afternoon after saddling a winner at Fairyhouse an hour earlier.

McCullagh, the veteran of the weighroom at 55, reflected: “He rallied so well in Galway that I thought this sharp track would suit.

“He is like myself, as he is getting on in years and likes things to go smooth, with no hassle. I am choosey in what I ride nowadays, but can still do the job!”

Decisive

Third in his three previous outings, Right And True (11/4 joint-favourite) was a decisive winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Stepping up to a mile for the first time, the Arizona colt, trained for the Coolmore partners by Aidan O’Brien, raced close to the pace and led over a furlong out to beat Nobler by three and three-quarter lengths.

Winning rider, Jack Cleary commented: “He got into a good rhythm and got a nice tow into the race.

“I spoke to Wayne Lordan and he said, after riding him the last day, that he would stay this trip well, so I was confident enough coming here.”

Doubled up

Cleary doubled up for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners, and took his seasonal tally of Ballydoyle-trained maiden winners to six, when Dublin justified 15/8 favouritism in the Tote Ireland Maiden.

Blinkered for debut, the son of Dubawi and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Marvellous, struck the front at the furlong pole to beat Finsceal Luas by four lengths.

“I ride him quite a bit at home, so know him well and he is very straightforward,” said Cleary.

THERE was plenty of pace on in the one-mile handicap, which played into the hands of those ridden patiently and Relevant Range came from rear of mid-division to spring a 50/1 shock under Darragh O’Sullivan.

The Starspangledbanner gelding headed Clarita 100 yards out to score by a length and three-quarters.

Based in Ballingarry, Co Limerick, Gillian Scott trains the five-year-old for the Irrelevant Syndicate and was tasting success at her local festival meeting for the third time in four years.

Scott said: “He’s not the most genuine, but Darragh got him travelling enthusiastically and his 10lb claim was worth so much.

“He is a really good jockey and I’d say he will go jumping eventually, as he is tall.”

Casanova (11/2) ended a three-year wait for success in the Oisin Kelly ‘Every Drop Counts’ Giveblood.ie Handicap.

Clever And Cute, an early casualty when unseating rider leaving the stalls, caused trouble in running for much of the field, but Ronan Whelan swung wide into the home straight on the winner, who quickened well to beat Expound by two and a half lengths.

Whelan reported: “I was placed on him in the Listed race here in 2022 and, whatever it is, he does tend to run well at this time of year.

“The loose horse ran off the bend and pushed us wider than we’d have liked but I had enough in hand to get the job done.”

BEYOND Your Dreams performed exactly as anticipated in landing a significant gamble, as J.P. McManus’ filly won the Kevin’s Bar Listowel/Exchange Inn Ballybunion Handicap.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge led early in the straight to win by a snug two and three-quarter lengths from Robbies Rock.

Jockey Declan McDonogh remarked: “She is out of a Galileo mare, so I didn’t want it to turn into a sprint. She is a huge big unit and is obviously just coming into her frame.”

Trapalanda was sent off a well-supported 4/5 favourite for the Eric Browne Memorial Maiden and landed the odds in good style under Gavin Ryan. The home-bred son of Decorated Knight, owned by Harry and Charlie O’Reilly, was sent for home entering the straight to beat Young Churchill by two and half lengths.

Trainer Paul Fahey said: “We always knew he was smart and my son Aaron broke him when he was a hardy horse. We will be looking at some of the good handicaps next year and I’d say there will be a good pot in him somewhere.”

On the level

Useful hurdler Sir Allen (14/1) recorded his second win on the level, when leading home a 1-3 for trainer Andy Slattery in the Treo Eile Retraining Ireland’s Racehorses Handicap.

Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the Territories gelding led over a furlong out to beat Tudor Manor by two and a half lengths, with stablemate Plains Indian staying on for a place.

Trainer Slattery said of the Eight Star Syndicate’s winner: “He was a good hurdler last year, but then had three-year-old-hurdler ‘syndrome’ although is back to himself now. We might go for a handicap hurdle at Tipperary next month.”