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‘Very quick’ Australian import Storm Boy impressing at Ballydoyle

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Storm Boy, Aidan O’Brien’s new Australian recruit, is likely to run in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh before heading to Royal Ascot.

The Justify colt was beaten just half a length into fourth in the prestigious Golden Rose at Rosehill last September by Broadsiding, who franked the form by winning another Group One recently.

He has joined O’Brien from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, having been bought into by Coolmore early last year.

O’Brien enjoyed great success with another Australian import in Starspangledbanner, who won the Golden Jubilee and July Cup in 2010.

Take a glimpse at Storm Boy as he works through the motions under new trainer Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle! ⚡️#Coolmore #HomeOfChampions pic.twitter.com/h2LxC1ne4j

— Coolmore Australia (@CoolmoreAus) March 11, 2025

“He’s very quick. The plan will be to go to Ascot and have a run before it, maybe at the Curragh in the Greenlands,” said O’Brien.

“Before he came, I wasn’t sure whether he’d want six, seven or a mile, but there’s no doubt he’s a sprinter, he’s fast. He’s big and powerful. You’d be very happy with everything he’s doing.”

One with a longer term aim in the yard is Los Angeles, who always looked the type to excel at four.

He won the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur last season before finishing third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – and that will be his main aim this term.

“Los Angeles could go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and maybe have a run in one of the mile and a quarter trials at the Curragh on the way,” said O’Brien.

Los Angeles was an imposing individual last season (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“We feel going back to the Arc will suit him well. He didn’t suit the Arc last year, as he ended up making the running, obviously he’d prefer to be getting a lead but he could be a very legitimate horse for it this year, he’s a big, powerful horse.”

Running through a few other older horses at Ballydoyle, O’Brien said: “Diego Velazquez will be trained for the mile race at Ascot, the Queen Anne, and he’ll have a run or two before, he’s in good shape.

“Tower Of London is in great shape, we’re very happy with him and thinking of going to France for the early Group One over two miles (Prix Vicomtesse Vigier) rather than running into Kyprios.

“Continuous is going to go for the two-mile race (Gold Cup) in Meydan.”

The record-breaking handler also nominated a couple of juveniles to watch, although none have been named as yet.

He said: “They haven’t been named yet, would you believe, they’ll get named next week. There’s a No Nay Never out of Muirin (which makes him a full-brother to Middle Park and Prix Morny winner Blackbeard) and a Wootton Bassett out of Yet, he looks a bit different at the moment, but we’ll know more in a couple of weeks.”

O’Brien hints Twain may lead Newmarket 2000 Guineas team

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Twain has been a springer in the Betfred 2000 Guineas market for Aidan O’Brien following the news that stablemate and previous ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter may not make the Newmarket Classic.

Along with Dewhurst runner-up Expanded, Twain was a late bloomer last season, with both not making their debuts until October and then just a few days later proving their worth at the highest level.

While Expanded had to settle for second in the Dewhurst, Twain won the Criterium International in France and both colts have pleased O’Brien in the interim, although Expanded was put forward as a possible candidate for the Irish Guineas.

“What Twain and Expanded did last year was quite unusual,” said O’Brien. “They both came out late, then a few days later were back out in Group Ones.

Twain impressed on debut a few days before winning a French Group One (Brian Lawless/PA)

“They were massive runs from both of them, really. Twain won in France and Expanded just got beat in the Dewhurst.

“Poor Expanded got a bit of a raw deal, as he was going in the Dewhurst for experience as a second string behind The Lion In Winter but then The Lion In Winter didn’t run and he got put in the front line, so that was massive.

“I’m very happy with Twain, physically he’s done very well. Good ground will be fine for him. Ryan (Moore) said he rode very green in the Group One and still won very nicely, so we’re thinking he could start in the Guineas.

“Twain has the pedigree and the physique, what he did last year…we were only giving him a run at Leopardstown to get him out and get a look but he won easily in bad ground.

“In France, it was the first time he’d followed horses but he won well again in bad ground and I think he’s a nice-ground horse. As he has a strong Galileo pedigree, I was probably not trying to focus on him too early.

“If we were dividing them up, Expanded could go to the Curragh for the Tetrarch Stakes on the way to the Irish Guineas and Twain could go to the English Guineas.

“That’s the way we’re thinking; all those things can change, but at the moment that is what could happen.”

Other possibles for the 2000 Guineas include Henri Matisse, a winner at the Breeders’ Cup on his first run over a mile, and Camille Pissarro, winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

“Henri Matisse is very well. He’s a fast horse, he likes fast ground and likes to come late,” said O’Brien.

Henri Matisse was a winner at the Breeders' Cup — Henri Matisse was a winner at the Breeders’ Cup (PA)

“What happened last year was we put blinkers on him on bad ground in France, he got a bump and got frightened early. Then he won very well in America.

“He’s a very good mover, so I’d say we wouldn’t be keen to go on soft ground with him again.

“Camille Pissarro we always thought was very good but I’d say we got it wrong with him, as he didn’t win a Group One until the very end.

“He’s a fast horse, we think a mile is as far as he’ll want to go and he’d have to be ridden to get a mile. He’s a possible for the Guineas, he could be a second string or something like that.”

Other three-year-old colts O’Brien mentioned included Whistlejacket, who has the Commonwealth Cup as his main aim in the first half of the season, and Delacroix, who will go down the Derby route.

As for his extensive team of fillies, one may need to step up, with O’Brien revealing Lake Victoria faces a race against time to get to Newmarket.

That is MAGIC from Ryan Moore to get Fairy Godmother to win the Albany Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/yFSRxGa8kH

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024

Royal Ascot winner Fairy Godmother could be the one, though.

“She is very good, she was away at the Curragh last weekend and I’m very happy with her. She did an unusual thing in Ascot,” said O’Brien.

“She worked over seven furlongs at the Curragh on soft ground and she got it very well. It’s very possible she could go to the Guineas without a run.”

Bedtime Story was another juvenile Royal Ascot winner last year for the yard.

“She’s good, she’s a little bit highly strung like her sister, Content, trying to do too much. I would imagine where she runs, she’ll run as a second or third string, when there’ll be no pressure on her and whoever rides her will try to switch her off,” said O’Brien.

Curragh Races – Saturday August 31st — Dreamy winning at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA).

Exactly is another possible for the 1000 Guineas, while O’Brien’s Oaks team also has strength in depth.

“Giselle’s a good filly, she had a few little hold-ups but she’s back and was away at the Curragh and we’re looking at her as an Oaks filly, with a trial before.

“Dreamy is an Oaks filly too. She’s not quick enough for a Guineas but she’s an Oaks filly. That’s why we ran her in the Fillies’ Mile, to see. She’ll enjoy going a mile and a half, she’s a lovely big filly who has done very well. Ballet Slippers is another we’ll train for the Oaks.”

Hollie Doyle hits 1,000 mark in Britain with Lingfield strike

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Hollie Doyle brought up a landmark 1,000th domestic career winner when steering the Marco Botti-trained Handle With Care to victory at Lingfield.

Doyle has rewritten the history books since registering her first success 11 years ago, breaking the record for the number of winners ridden by a female jockey in 2019 by chalking up 116 triumphs.

She has enjoyed big-race glory aplenty at home and abroad since, and in September last year made it 1,000 winners worldwide.

After matching that tally in the UK alone, Doyle told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m delighted to have got that done, it’s another milestone and hopefully there’s another 1,000 under the bonnet somewhere!

“I’ve had so much support over the years, so many people have been loyal to me, especially Archie (Watson). Since I joined him, my career has really taken off.

“Marco has also been a big supporter of mine, so it’s quite fitting.”

In 2020, Doyle made the breakthrough on the biggest stage, celebrating her first Royal Ascot winner when Alan King’s Scarlet Dragon landed the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. She also rode a five-timer at Windsor, secured her first Group-race success on Dame Maillot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and became retained rider for Derby-winning owner Imad Al Sagar.

Perhaps even more significantly, Doyle became the first woman to ride a winner on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot through her old ally Trueshan, before recording a landmark first Group One success when making it a double on Glen Shiel in the Champions Sprint.

Her first Classic success came in France in the 2022 Prix de Diane on Nashwa for John and Thady Gosden.

Other major achievements include being named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year, as well as taking third place in the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

She added: “It’s crazy, I struggle to believe some of the things I’ve achieved and I’m pretty sure a lot of other people do as well!

“It’s amazing, I just need to keep going.”

Burke duo head Lincoln betting after Qirat comes out

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Karl Burke’s pair of Thunder Run and Native Warrior head the market for Saturday’s William Hill Lincoln after ante-post favourite Qirat was scratched ahead of the confirmation stage.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat won a valuable prize at Goodwood last summer before finishing second in the Challenge Cup at Ascot and a Listed race at Nottingham. The four-year-old was well fancied for the traditional Flat season curtain-raiser at Doncaster this weekend, but will not line up on Town Moor.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for Qirat’s owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “He’s fine, he just wasn’t ready. He’s still a little bit wintry and just wasn’t forward enough, so Ralph felt we’d be better waiting a couple of weeks until he’s blossomed a bit more.

“We have no plans, we’ll wait until he tells us that he’s ready to go. There’s one of those good handicaps nearly every weekend, so we’ll slot him in when he’s right.”

Native Warrior is a leading contender for the Lincoln (David Davies/PA)

Ed Walker’s course and distance winner Harper’s Ferry is another notable absentee, as is Ed Bethell’s Cambridgeshire runner-up James McHenry.

The sponsors make Thunder Run their 5-1 Lincoln favourite, with stablemate Native Warrior considered his biggest threat at 6-1.

Thunder Run won three of his six starts last term and was last seen finishing fourth as favourite for the Balmoral Handicap on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot in October, while the lightly-raced Native Warrior could make his first appearance since being gelded.

Other leading hopes include Julie Camacho’s Lattam and Hamad Al Jehani’s Midnight Gun, who are both priced up at 10-1 with William Hill.

The weights are headed by Witch Hunter (33-1) from Richard Hannon’s yard, with 69 horses still in contention at this stage.

Sangster reports ‘no negatives at this stage’ with star fillies

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Ollie Sangster is counting down the days until his crack team of high-class fillies put their Classic aspirations to the test at the beginning of the new Flat turf season

The Manton handler – who is the grandson of the great owner-breeder Robert Sangster – has proven adept at nurturing fillies to peak on the big occasion during his short training career, with Shuwari a breakout performer during his first full season with a licence in 2023.

The 2024 campaign saw Moyglare runner-up Simmering and Star Stakes winner Celestial Orbit headline his legion of talented two-year-olds who, along with May Hill third Flight, form just a part of a catalogue of big-race hopefuls currently being put through their paces ahead of an exciting new campaign.

Simmering, Celestial Orbit and Flight all possess a ticket for the Betfred 1000 Guineas, as does Radley Stakes scorer Ellaria Sand, with Sangster eager to see which of last year’s star juveniles can make it onto the Newmarket teamsheet by the first weekend in May.

Ollie Sangster has a top team at his dispersal this term — Ollie Sangster has a top team at his disposal this term (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Whether some of them take trials in or go straight to Newmarket or elsewhere, I guess it will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks or so,” said Sangster.

“There are plenty of options available in terms of trials, but they all seem to be in great form and have wintered well and I would be happy with how things are going at the moment.

“We’d be hopeful one or two of them would be up to lining up at Newmarket and putting in a nice performance and there’s no negatives at this stage.

“They are all starting to come to themselves now and have done well physically, it’s just finding out what level they fit in and where they all fall in line. We’ll find that out in the next month to six weeks but it’s a long season and I’m happy with how they are looking at the moment.”

Simmering’s fine second to Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother at Royal Ascot attracted the attention of Al Shaqab Racing to the Manton gates and the Qatar operation’s patronage was rewarded when she won both the Princess Margaret Stakes and Prix du Calvados last summer.

Simmering (left) and Lake Victoria (right) crossed swords at the Curragh last September (Niall Carson/PA)

It was another Ballydoyle inmate and 1000 Guineas hopeful Lake Victoria that proved too strong when the daughter of Too Darn Hot had to settle for second at the Curragh in September.

However, with Fallen Angel a Classic winner from her sire’s first crop, there is hope Simmering could turn the tables in a Rowley Mile rematch.

“Simmering was very good last year and of course bumped into Lake Victoria in the Moyglare, which looks very smart form,” said Sangster.

“She’s a nice-sized filly and the ground was too slow for her in the Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, she wants quick ground and hopefully she can have a productive season.

“Too Darn Hot did very well with his Classic generation of fillies last year, so I would be hopeful she is going to have a nice season.”

Celestial Orbit was impressive when winning at Sandown last summer (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Hopes are also high for Flight and Celestial Orbit, with the latter, who saw her juvenile season curtailed early due to a setback, one who could find herself diverted from Newmarket to France in search of her preferred going.

“Flight ran well in the May Hill and probably had one run too many by the end of last year when she was again third in the Oh So Sharp,” continued Sangster.

“She’s wintered very well and she’s probably the biggest of those fillies by a good way, she’s a fair-sized filly and she probably wasn’t entitled to do what she did at two – and hopefully this will be a more suitable season for her.

“Her work this year has been good and we would be hopeful of picking up at least a stakes race and hopefully perform at a higher level – she’s bred to do better this year.”

Flight is expected to thrive at three (Steven Paston/PA)

He went on: “Celestial Orbit was a good winner of the Star at Sandown but she picked up a small injury in that. It was nothing serious and we just gave her plenty of time to get over it and she’s wintered well.

“Her work has been good and she likes a bit of ease in the ground. She might be one to go out to France with and it will be interesting to see what trip she makes, as she’s by No Nay Never and they don’t tend to stay too far, but her half-brother (Nayef Road) was a very good stayer.”

Glamis Road, another of last year’s stakes-winning two-year-olds, may have seen her momentum checked when only third in the Prix la Camargo at Saint-Cloud recently, but there could be another filly with a bright future lurking at Manton after 100,000 guineas buy Bijoux made a taking debut at Southwell earlier this month.

Sangster said: “She’s a nice filly and we’ve always held her in high enough regard. She had a couple of setbacks last year, which is why she has only debuted now.

Winning debut! Bijoux, a full sister to Superlative Stakes winner Mystery Power, battles through to victory at @Southwell_Races for @OllieSangster… pic.twitter.com/XWO0sPOeh4

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 19, 2025

“We left plenty of learning on the job for her at Southwell, she was plenty green and should now take a nice step forward.

“She will probably be one to go for another novice with but she could pop up in a trial and we’ll just have to see how the next few weeks go.”

On the Saint-Cloud reversal of the Nick Bradley-owned Glamis Road, Sangster added: “It was a good performance in a handy enough race for the grade and it was her first run back off her winter break and first time at a mile.

“I think she’ll improve for it and hopefully will pick up another stakes race this year. I’d say the French 1000 Guineas may be a lofty target after that, but she wasn’t fully tuned up and hopefully there might be a nice bit of improvement to come and we can see where that lands us.”

Neil Callan receives suspended ban for social media breaches

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Neil Callan has been given an eight-month ban following remarks made on social media, but will be able to continue riding as that sentence is suspended for two years.

Callan was charged with three offences and breaches of the rules of racing.

The first under rule J19a being that on December 15, 2023 he sent out a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, in relation to BHA steward Anthony McGlone that was abusive, insulting and did not treat him with respect.

The second charge came as a result of conduct on December 9, 2023 when Callan posted in relation to the BHA that was not a responsible use of social media and did not show adequate respect to the officials.

The third allegation was in breach of rule J19 and related to conduct between August 16, 2023 and January 14, 2024 when he posted, reposted and commented on social media in a manner that was offensive, abusive and inappropriate, such that it was prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing in Great Britain.

Following a closed plea agreement, independent judicial panel chair Tim Grey said: “The agreement that was reached was that the sanction that will be imposed on Mr Callan for those breaches will be a sanction of an eight-month suspension of Mr Callan’s licence and that suspension itself will be suspended for a period of 24 months, concurrent on each of those counts.

“In addition, there will be a financial penalty that will be immediately payable in the sum of £1,500. The suspension will have an effect of acting as a deterrent.

“It’s also right to say that if Mr Callan were to commit any further breaches of the rules of racing, for standalone riding and riding-related offences dealt with by raceday stewards or the whip review committee, or a judicial panel hearing on whip, running or riding or related offences of interference referral, in the next two years, it would then be open to any future judicial panel to activate the suspension in addition to any new penalty.”

O’Brien expresses Guineas doubts about The Lion In Winter

24 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Aidan O’Brien has raised doubts over whether his Betfred 2000 Guineas favourite The Lion In Winter will be ready in time for the Newmarket Classic on May 3.

The unbeaten colt broke the juvenile track record at York when winning the Acomb Stakes in August, a race which has seen its form repeatedly boosted.

However, he did not manage to to run again as a two-year-old due to minor setbacks and as a result he is a little bit behind schedule compared to some of O’Brien’s other Classic contenders.

“The Lion In Winter took a little bit of time to come right so he’s a little bit behind the others,” O’Brien said at a Ballydoyle press morning on Monday.

He's exciting!

Sea The Stars colt The Lion In Winter remains unbeaten in the £165,000 @Tattersalls1766 Acomb Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/4H3kmftV8k

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 21, 2024

“We took him to the Curragh last weekend and he went well, the work was easy what he did.

“Whether he’ll make it in time for the Guineas or not I’m not sure. We’ll know in the next week or so but if he doesn’t he might be trained for something like the Dante (at York) and go straight to the Derby, something like that.

“There has to be a doubt about the Guineas but he’s very well, he’s just carrying plenty of condition so he might not make it, in the next couple of weeks we’ll know.”

O’Brien’s leading filly from last year, Lake Victoria, who won Group Ones over six and seven furlongs as well as over a mile, is also not certain to be ready in time for the 1000 Guineas.

“She’s good, she had a long break, longer than the others because her year went very long,” said O’Brien.

“She was at the Curragh last weekend as well on an easy piece of work. I’m not sure if she’ll make the Guineas but we’re training her for it. If she didn’t (make it) she would go for the Athasi Stakes the day after at the Curragh if she didn’t come in time.

“Knowing her she probably will come in time because she’s that type of filly. I’m very happy with her and we think she’s done very well.”

Trinity College gets Aidan O’Brien’s season up and running

23 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Aidan O’Brien registered the first of what is sure to be many winners this season as Trinity College saw off stablemate Acapulco Bay in the concluding TRM – Supplements You Can Trust Race at Naas.

The Ballydoyle handler was out of luck on the first day of the new campaign at the Curragh last weekend and his first three runners at Naas also failed to hit the target.

However, he appeared to hold all the aces in the last of eight races in County Kildare, with Trinity College the 10-11 favourite and Acapulco Bay next in the betting at 5-2.

Trinity College had shown a high level of form as a two-year-old, with a 12-length maiden victory at Galway joined by two fine efforts in defeat in Group-race company, while Acapulco Bay was second to stablemate Delacroix on his Curragh debut in early August before going one better three weeks later.

The pair drew clear in the latter stages of the one-mile contest, with Trinity College asserting late on to prevail by two lengths.

Of Trinity College, O’Brien said: “We’re delighted with him, he’ll stay further. It was nice to get him started, he had some very good runs last year.

“He’ll have no problem going up to a mile and quarter, I’d imagine. We’ll look at a Derby trial and he could be a French Derby horse.

“The second horse will definitely stay. He’ll definitely get a mile and a quarter and he could even get further. They’ll both obviously come forward from their runs.”

East Hampton rounded off a profitable weekend for trainer David Marnane with a decisive victory in the €45,000 Irish Racing Writers Association Ron McKnight Memorial Madrid Handicap.

Following a Friday night double at Dundalk, the Tipperary handler’s East Hampton was a 7-1 shot for his first start since November.

Having been gelded during the off-season, the three-year-old looked much improved as he pulled a length of the runner-up Wizard Of Odds in the hands of Luke McAteer.

He said: “We’ll see where he lands, he’s a good horse anyway. As long as there is a bit of ease in the ground, we’ll keep going.”

Rowdy Yeats (5-1) looks set to go on to bigger and better things after impressing in the Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden.

Runner-up on each of his two juvenile starts last season for Noel Meade, the Make Believe colt quickened up smartly for Jamie Powell in the last of seven furlongs to beat 13-8 favourite Storm Piece by three and a half lengths, with Mississippi River a close-up third.

“He’s a nice horse. We fancied him when he went to the Curragh last year, we never thought he was bred to be a five-furlong horse, but he was beat by a very good horse (Arizona Blaze) and they were a long way clear of the third,” said Meade.

“I thought I’d give him time to mature, but I found it very hard to get him back and I don’t think I really had him 100 per cent when he came here at the end of the season.

“He has trained very well and I fancied him today. I don’t know where he goes now but there is no reason why he can’t run in good races, I think he’s a good horse.”

Hurricane Ivor was a 20-1 winner of the DAR Golf Handicap, his eighth career victory and third since joining Jessica Harrington two years ago.

Harrington said: “When he’s on-song he’s on-song! He worked really well the other day up Walsh’s Hill (at the Curragh). Scott (McCullagh, jockey) rode him and he tanked up there.

“I had no idea (what to expect), I thought the ground was maybe a bit heavy for him but when he’s in a going mood like that he’s very strong.

“As he’s got older seven furlongs seems to be no problem and he might go a mile. He’s such a cool dude.”

Frankel filly Faiyum (2-1 joint-favourite) made a smart debut for Ger Lyons in the Aesop’s Fables At Compas Stallions Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, stretching almost three lengths clear of her rivals under Colin Keane.

“We knew she was nice, but she’s as green as grass and there should be buckets of improvement in her,” said Lyons.

“We don’t take them away so that’s her first day out of Glenburnie. Her sister handled that ground so we thought it wouldn’t be a problem.

“The Park Express Stakes closed the other day and I put her in it because I said you’d look silly if you didn’t. We like her and it’s no more than you’d expect from a Juddmonte filly.”

Fun Fun Fun makes her mark at Limerick

23 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

A step up in trip proved no barrier to success for the free-going Fun Fun as she galloped her rivals into submission in the Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase at Limerick.

The seven-year-old was bidding to provide Willie Mullins with a fifth victory in the last nine runnings of this Grade Three contest, with four-time Grade One winner Kemboy and subsequent Irish Grand National hero Burrows Saint notable names on the roll of honour.

Fun Fun Fun, a Grade Two-winning bumper mare and a successful at Listed and Grade Three level over hurdles, made a fine start to her career over fences at Naas in early January, but disappointed when sent to Exeter for a Listed prize last month.

However, Paul Townend’s mount was the 7-4 favourite to bounce back to form on her first start over three miles and after taking the lead from an early stage, she never looked in any real danger of being reeled in, eventually coming home with 13 lengths in hand over Harry Des Ongrais.

Patrick Mullins, who also bred Fun Fun Fun, said: “It has taken us a long time to figure out her best trip as over hurdles she was running too keen and doing too much. With more jumps, she gets a chance to breathe and is just so quick at her fences.

“We didn’t want to go to Cheltenham this year after her run in Exeter, but we drew a line through that. Maybe the Willow Warm Gold Cup (at Fairyhouse) could suit and I’d say we’ll be working backwards from the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham next year with her.”

Mullins was completing a treble on the card following the earlier victories of 4-9 favourite Jalila Moriviere in the Party Time Ltd Mares Hurdle and 3-1 shot Dr Eggman in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, ridden by Mark Walsh and Townend respectively.

Of Jalila Moriviere, Frank Berry, racing manager to winning owner JP McManus, said: “She had different ground today and she seems to enjoy jumping. You’d be happy with her and she looks like she can jump a fence in future.

“If there is something for her in Punchestown I’m sure she’ll run and she’ll tip away for the summer. Maybe she has a little to find for a Galway Hurdle but you never know what way things will go.”

A quality field assembled for the concluding Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion (Pro/Am) Flat Race and Light Up The Dark sent favourite-backers home happy with a decisive Listed success.

A 6-5 shot to follow up her debut win in the McManus silks at Naas in early January, Joseph O’Brien’s youngster travelled strongly throughout under John Gleeson and responded well when push came to shove to repel the challenge of promising newcomer Starting Fifteen by two and a quarter lengths.

Berry added: “They probably didn’t go a mad gallop, but she did the job nicely. There were a lot of horses there turning in, but she quickened nicely and put it to bed.

“She had a good attitude and the graded mares’ bumper at Punchestown might suit.”

Sunchart shines once more in Naas feature

23 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Sunchart once again proved his liking for Naas when the mud is flying by winning the TOTE Irish EBF Devoy Stakes for the second year in succession.

Andrew Slattery’s stable stalwart claimed the biggest victory of his career so far in this Listed contest 12 months ago and having since plied his trade not only on the Flat but also over hurdles, the eight-year-old returned for his first competitive appearance since October.

Dallas Star – not seen since picking up an injury in last year’s Derby – took the field along for much of the 10-furlong contest before being joined by 15-8 favourite Trustyourinstinct, but Sunchart (6-1) soon arrived on the outside to throw down his challenge.

The further Slattery’s charge went the more decisive his victory became and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over Enfranchise, who made late gains to beat Trustyourinstinct to the runner-up spot.

Slattery said: “He loves this place and never runs a bad race here. It’s a pity they wouldn’t put on a few more of those races here for me!

“He loves an ease in the ground and it’s great to have a servant like that. It took him a long time to win a race like that and he’s won two Listed races now, one year after another.

“We might go travelling this year, because he’s eight. We might go to Germany or somewhere like that where he’d get soft ground, over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.”

On a potential return to hurdles, the trainer added: “He could do that. Pat (Garvey, owner) is not fond of the hurdles but he could.

“Usually the ground over hurdles would suit him better because it would be watered.”

East Hampton completes good weekend for Marnane and McAteer

23 March 2025/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

East Hampton rounded off a profitable weekend for trainer David Marnane with a decisive victory in the €45,000 Irish Racing Writers Association Ron McKnight Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.

Following a Friday night double at Dundalk, the Tipperary handler sent just one runner to County Kildare on Sunday, with East Hampton a 7-1 shot for his first start since November.

The son of Cracksman was fourth behind the high-class Henri Matisse on his racecourse debut in May last year and went on to win a Curragh maiden before the end of 2024.

Having been gelded during the off-season, the three-year-old looked much improved as he pulled a length of the runner-up Wizard Of Odds in the hands of Luke McAteer, and Marnane is confident there is more to come in his favoured testing conditions.

He said: “He obviously had a very good run the first day and then the only day he got anything resembling soft ground he won on it at the Curragh.

“He wants an ease in the ground. We brought him to Dundalk and his fractions were actually very good but he just didn’t like the surface so we put him away with this in mind.

“We’ll see where he lands, he’s a good horse anyway. As long as there is a bit of ease in the ground, we’ll keep going.”

Rowdy Yeats (5-1) looks set to go on to bigger and better things after impressing in the Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden.

Runner-up on each of his two juvenile starts last season for Noel Meade, the Make Believe colt quickened up smartly for Jamie Powell in the last of seven furlongs to beat 13-8 favourite Storm Piece by three and a half lengths, with Mississippi River a close-up third.

“He’s a nice horse. We fancied him when he went to the Curragh last year, we never thought he was bred to be a five-furlong horse, but he was beat by a very good horse (Arizona Blaze) and they were a long way clear of the third,” said Meade.

“I thought I’d give him time to mature but I found it very hard to get him back and I don’t think I really had him 100 per cent when he came here at the end of the season.