Crosse helps O’Brien to treble

Aidan O’Brien brought a memorable week that also included significant cross-channel success to a conclusion with a double at Curragh Racecourse on Sunday, starting off with the Ryan Moore-ridden Espionage in the Williamhill. ie Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. Following up on a debut runner-up finish at Galway, the Galileo juvenile recorded a smooth success, with stablemate Sierra Blanca staying on to be a one-and-three-quarter-length second. The double was racked up by Waterville in dramatic fashion, Wayne Lordan producing a last-to-first run in the closing stages to bag the €330,000 first prize in the Irish Cesarewitch by a neck from Echoes And Rain, who went so close to delivering for Killenaule jockey Rachael Blackmore, making a rare appearance on the Flat for trainer Willie Mullins.

Lord Massusus followed up his Listowel victory earlier in the week with another for trainer Joseph Murphy in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race. Though down a quarter of a mile to six furlongs and getting caught in a pocket, the Markaz gelding showed an impressive turn of foot to end up a ready length and a half winner. Ben Coen delivered Devore right on the line to win the William Hill Extra Place Nursery Handicap by a neck for trainer Johnny Murtagh.

Edward O’Grady was able to call upon Killenaule neighbour Rachael Blackmore to guide Rumi in the John Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Listowel on Saturday who steered the son of Harzand – running in his trainer’s colours – to a smooth eight-length success. Denis Hogan secured the services of talented youngster John Gleeson for the Brendan Daly Memorial INH Flat Race and Gleeson kept Thecompanysergeant up to his work to be always holding Realistic Optimism over the final two furlongs, a half-length separating them at the winning post.

Emly teenager, Tom Kiely Marshall sprang a surprise in the Tipperary Crystal Apprentice Handicap at Curragh Racecourse on Saturday, as French Rescue reeled in long-time leader Star Of Cashel to prevail by a length and a quarter at odds of 80/1 for trainer John Geoghegan. Gavin Ryan teamed up with Michael Grassick to score in the opening William Hill Free Or 4 Irish EBF Maiden with Small Oasis, who showed clear improvement from her debut to prevail by four and three-quarter lengths.

TWO WINNERS FOR O’SULLIVAN

Friday was a National Hunt card at the Listowel festival and it was a memorable day for newly-turned professional jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who booted him two winners, including the feature Grade B Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle on the Terence O’Brien-trained Magnor Glory. Carrigtwohill-based O’Brien, whose first ever winner in a pointto-point was ridden by O’Sullivan’s father William, was continuing a good record in similar contests, while it was an early highlight for the rider, who followed up on Presenting J for Inishannon trainer Michael Kennedy in the Shanahan Irish EBF Mares’ INH Flat Race. Upton native Aidan Coleman made a rare visit to Listowel pay off as the ultra-consistent Pat Coyne did the honours in the Southampton Goodwill Plate Handicap Chase for trainer John Queally, coming late to score by three-quarters of a length. The Sam Curling-trained Monas Melody won the Listowel Failte Abhaile QR Race by two and a quarter lengths, John Gleeson getting a lovely tune out of the Tipperary-trained horse.

Back on the Flat in Kerry last Thursday, Lark In The Mornin displayed a nice turn of foot in testing conditions, recording a neck success under a confident Shane Crosse in the Buckley Agri Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden to provide Joseph O’Brien with the first leg of a treble. Wayne Lordan booted home Flying Scotsman in the Listowel Printing Works Handicap to deliver a fourth feature event of the festival to Joseph O’Brien and the second leg of a treble for the trainer.

Paul Townend supplied the first leg of a Willie Mullins double back Listowel last Wednesday week, steering No Risk No Fun to a tenlength triumph in the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle. A heavy fall in the subsequent Guinness Kerry National side-lined the East Cork man for the rest of the festival however and hopefully he won’t be out of action for too long.

Davy Russell was another to miss some rides at the end of the week due to soreness after a fall but he did record a double, winning the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle on the impressive Amir Kabir and then the Ballygarry Estates Novice Chase for mares on the eye-catching Motown Maggie, both for trainer Gordon Elliott. Daniel King got the Denis Hogantrained Macgiloney to victory in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle by just a nose. And Rachael Blackmore was also on the board, Life In The Park putting in a very good performance in the colours of former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo to win the Brandon Hotel Beginners Chase for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Tuesday last week was a Flat day at Listowel but that made no difference to Fethard trainer, Joe Murphy, who recorded a double and helped jockey Gary Carroll record a treble in the process. Murphy got off the mark as Prophets Voice cantered to a three-length success in the Jet, Peggy & Eamonn O’Carroll Maiden for colts and geldings over seven furlongs. Lord Massusus was just as impressive for Carroll and Murphy when pulling away for a two-anda-half-length success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery over a mile. A consummate piece of navigation by Shane Crosse ensured Joseph O’Brien’s Neptune Rock came out on top in thrilling finish to the Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes, winning by a half-length, with two noses separating second from third and third from fourth.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Bellewstown – Thursday, September 29 (first race 2.05pm); Clonmel – Thursday, September 29 (first race 1.50pm); Dundalk – Friday, September 30 (first race 5.25pm); Gowran Park – Friday, September 30 (first race 2.07pm); Gowran Park – Saturday, October 1 (first race 2.17pm); Killarney – Saturday, October 1 (first race 1.55pm); Killarney – Sunday, October 2 (first race 1.35pm); Tipperary – Sunday, October 2 (first race 1.15pm).