TRAINER Joseph O’Brien was in excellent form at Tipperary on Sunday afternoon, recording a treble on the card.

Without Words was the highlight of the trio, causing a 40/1 upset to win the featured Group 3 Coolmore No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Fillies Stakes. The Mikey Sheehy-partnered three-year-old got up close home to beat Matilda Picotte a length.

Stable representative Sean Corby later said of the John Oxley-owned winner: “She ran well the other day (at Killarney) and Dylan felt she needs a good gallop to aim at and she got it there. She can be a little bit keen but settled lovely today with the pace that was on. In fairness Matilda Picotte stayed going well.

“She is a talented filly when things fall right for her. That’s a career best today and she’s going the right way. It’s been a great day, the horses are running really well.”

Opening win

O’Brien initiated his treble when Tennessee Stud made most under Declan McDonogh to win the opening Camas Park Stud Irish EBF Maiden.

Sent off 5/1, the Westerberg, Tabor, Magnier, Smith-owned colt stayed on strongly to beat favourite Shackleton by two and a quarter lengths.

Declan McDonogh said: “He showed a bit of pace to get that position out of the gates. He had to overcome a lot; the track is riding very tight. I got a nice sit into him down the back and he picked up well down the straight.

“The line we are on is throwing us out at every bend. It’s not ideal but he did very well. I thought it rode a nice race and he could definitely be a stakes horse.

“Physically he’s a beautiful horse and has great balance.”

McDonogh adopted similar tactics on the O’Brien-trained Dignam to win the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden. Carrying the colours of Paul Byrne, the 4/9 favourite kept on well inside the final furlong to beat newcomer Slick by one and three-quarter lengths.

The winning rider said: “It’s the first time I rode him. I sat on him yesterday morning and he’s a grand, solid horse. He has a turn of foot and when I was getting it easy, I kicked and got a few lengths on them.

“He feels like a quality sort of horse as he was gawking the whole way down the straight and lugging out to his right a little bit and having a good look. I’d say he’d be better with a lead.”

THE Jack Davison-trained She’s Quality proved far too strong for her rivals when easily landing the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes.

In front after a furlong, the 85/40 favourite quickened clear over a furlong out to score by three lengths for owners Quality Time Racing Syndicate.

Winning jockey Billy Lee reported: “She’s a filly with a lot of speed. Jack rang me this morning and said try and track something, but he said at halfway let her stride on and try to sicken them a bit.

“She broke okay and ended up in front sooner but with first-time blinkers I wasn’t going to break her stride and I wanted to let her do it nice and even. She’s a filly with a lot of speed and she put them to the sword today on a fast track.

“It’s good to get the listed win for her and hopefully she can step up again. He’d mentioned the Flying Five so hopefully that is her next destination.”

Tidy gamble

Malex returned from a 582-day absence to land a tidy gamble (10/1-4/1) in the Rockwell College Race.

David Egan produced the AMO Racing Limited-owned five-year-old to lead over a furlong out, before going to on win by one and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Adrian Murray said: “We have him about six months, and we weren’t really sure what to expect today. He came back from America with a bit of an injury and has got over that, but you just don’t know until you run them.

“He’d been working well at home and has come through with flying colours. He’s picked up a little bit of a cut and hopefully he’ll be okay in a few days.”

DANCING Steve stayed on best under Adam Caffrey to land division l of the Breen Farm Machinery Apprentice Handicap for Ado McGuinness.

Sent off 5/1, the Breen White-owned gelding beat Simple Endeavor by half a length. McGuinness later said: “He ran well the last day. I’m delighted with him and he was a very cheap horse. Breen is in Spain on holidays at the moment and he wants to go to Listowel, so I’d say that’s where he’ll head after this.

“He was a bit unlucky in a few runs. I ran him over further and I didn’t think he got home. Adam was good on him and didn’t commit too early and he stayed on well. It’s another winner for him and he’s close in the apprentice title.”

Special Angel made most under Robert Whearty to win division ll of the Breen Farm Machinery Apprentice Handicap.

Held off

Owned by Giselle de Aguiar, the 25/1 chance just held off the late run of favourite Finsceal Annie by a head.

Trainer Adrian Murray, who was completing a double on the afternoon, said: “She’s a filly that was weak up to now and she’s turned a corner. She’s more relaxed in her work at home and is finding everything a bit easier. She’s toughed it out real well today.

“She had an outside draw and had to do it the hard way. He said he couldn’t believe how easy he was getting it (in front) down the back straight.”

Local win

Denis Hogan sent local punters home happy when sending out Polemon to win the concluding Great National Ballykisteen Handicap.

Ridden by Daniel King, the Premier Racing Club-owned 9/1 chance led over 150 yards out to beat Lady Christa by three and three-quarter lengths.

Hogan said: “He’s a lovely horse and it was too soft in Killarney the last day. Young Alan (Casey) had his first winner on him two runs ago and Dan gave him a lovely ride today.

“He could go jumping at some stage but he’s a mile and a half horse and will handle the all-weather as well. He was only €9,000 (a son of Frankel) and is well paid for already. He’s entered at Clonmel on Thursday so we’ll see.”

THERE were 16 non-runners on the card with the reason given as due to ground conditions.

Some of the senior riders expressed their unease with the track conditions, following the running of the fourth race, the stewards received a delegation of riders regarding the track alignment. Evidence was heard from jockeys McDonogh, Foley, Keane, Lee and McCullagh and IHRB Clerk of the Course, Paul Moloney.

The opinion was that the track alignment today was not good, the whole track was on a bad line, it wasn’t possible to ride the rail and the track was not riding well.

Lee stated that his horse lost his footing at one stage. All the riders accepted that the track was not dangerous but that in general it was not riding well.

Paul Moloney stated that two bends were moved following the inspection but agreed with the riders it was the widest racing line he could use. He confirmed that he was only filling in for the Clerk of the Course and had consulted with the racecourse team regarding the racing line which had been previously used.