ADO McGuinness broke new ground at Naas on Wednesday, recording his first stakes winner with a juvenile as Tiger Belle just held on for victory in the Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes.

Seven went to post in the listed event over the minimum trip with a four-versus-three split racing on either side of the track.

Ben Coen kept up the far side on the eventual winner and sent her on over a furlong from home.

The 11/1 shot, owned by Shamrock Thoroughbreds, was strongly pressed to the line by Storm Miami, on the same side, and just clung on by a nose at the line to claim valuable blacktype.

Tiger Belle, a winner on debut at Cork and fourth in listed company at Tipperary last time, had been led out unsold at the Goffs London Sale back in June and McGuinness is hopeful connections can cash in now.

“We were chasing blacktype and we got it, we didn’t think we were going to stay!” said McGuinness.

“Ben said she’s a tough, tough filly. She was out a bit on her feet in the last 50 yards but she’s very fast.

“Coming here, I thought this track was going to be too stiff for her. When you are looking for blacktype and these races come up you have to try. She’s going to win no blacktype at home.

“Where we got next, I don’t know. She is for sale so she will be sold at some stage. She’s got blacktype now and that’s what matters - our job is done with her.”

THE decision to try Clounmacon over shorter paid off handsomely as she came with a strong surge to land the Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes.

Johnny Murtagh’s charge missed the kick in the race, over just shy of six furlongs, but was nursed into contention by Shane Foley and came to lead in the final 100 yards, beating Aussie Girl by three-parts of a length.

The 8/1 winner (from 16/1) had been well-beaten in handicap company at Royal Ascot on her previous outing and brought a rating of 92 into the race.

“It’s not a complete surprise. I fancied her in Royal Ascot but she was very keen and she was probably on the wrong side,” said Murtagh.

“I thought coming back to six [would suit], although I was a little bit worried about the ground. Shane said she handled it well, she got away with it today.

“I always thought she had plenty of ability, she travels really strongly. Seven furlongs on fast ground is probably ideal for her.

“She’s won a stakes race now so it’s absolutely great for Maurice [Regan] and his broodmare band. We’ve got a few nice horses for Newtown Anner and I’m delighted to get a listed winner for them.”

Impressive

Ballydoyle colt Edwardian also overcame a tardy start to run out an impressive winner of the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on the card.

Ryan Moore conjured a strong surge from the son of No Nay Never inside the final furlong as the 4/6 shot swooped to record a length-and-a-quarter win over Perfect Judgement.

“He did well because he broke very slowly, he was very babyish. Ryan liked him, he finished out strong,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“He’ll go into a group race now. I asked Ryan how far he would stay and he said he wouldn’t be sure how far, maybe five or six. He’s a quick horse.”

The Andy Slattery-trained 6/1 shot got up close home, under the trainer’s son Andrew, to beat Helpmeout by a head with just a nose back to Facethepuckout in third

“She’s in at Galway next week and she’ll probably go there. She is in the big handicap on Sunday but probably won’t get into that,” said Slattery senior, who trains the winner for Eithne Thompson.

“There’s a race for her on Tuesday and there could be something later on in the week as well.”

Pat Murphy is also eyeing Ballybrit for Asisaid after his victory in the first division of the apprentice handicap over a mile.

Jake Coen produced the 14/1 shot to lead over a furlong from home and he went on to record a length-and-a-half win over Breagagh.

Ability

“He did that well, he has ability and got his ground today. The blinkers obviously helped,” said Murphy. “We might even look at Galway now. I was going to give him a break but with all the rain we’ve been getting I said we’d keep going.”

The second division of the apprentice race was won by the consistent Simply Sideways and it was a similar story as Sean Bowen produced Tim Doyle’s charge to lead over a furlong from home for a length-and-a-quarter win.

“I’m delighted with that, I was very sweet when I saw the rain as she handles a cut in the ground,” said Doyle.

“She’s a lovely honest filly, she always runs her race. We’ll give her an entry for Galway, if there is a 0-70. Galway would suit her if she got in.”

Brave strikes again for Kennedy

OWNER Eleanora Kennedy was on hand to lead back Warrior Brave after his front-running success in the Hurling For Cancer Race.

Gary Carroll bounced out in front on the 8/1 shot in the seven-furlong contest and he always looked in control in the closing stages as he posted a three-and-a-quarter-length win over Carrytheone.

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan was at the sales and his wife Katie Walsh said afterwards: “That was brilliant. He was bought for Eleanora as she wanted a horse to go to Ascot. He’s got her there twice but he definitely operates better on a bend.

“All of her family are over today and she’s absolutely over the moon. We didn’t know if he’d operate on the ground, mind you, he wasn’t tried on it that often.

“The blinkers seem to have put a bit of spark back in him and he’s definitely going the right direction.”

James McAuley continued his good recent form when Tai Sing Yeh gained a deserved success in the Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Handicap earlier on the card.

The 14/1 shot emerged on top after a good duel with Collective Power in the closing stages and the winning trainer praised jockey Joey Sheridan afterwards: “When I saw Joey making the manoeuvre he made I said ‘where is he going, from one rail to the other’ but he gave him a brilliant ride.

“Dating back to when he was a 10lb claimer, we’ve always had a good association with Joey. You know what you get with him, he’s no-nonsense and he was brilliant.”