Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
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Arms can get punters off to flyer
THE Aidan O’brien-trained Coat Of Arms might be capable of opening his account in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden which opens tonight’s flat card in Roscommon.
While the celebrations of the county’s Connacht Final victory over neighbours Galway continue, this Galileo colt is expected to give punters an early boost.
Unplaced on his debut behind Camelback at Leoppardstown, this Galileo colt stepped-up significantly when making the running and finishing third to the well-regarded Theobald in a mile maiden at Leopardstown.
That form has been boosted by runner-up Berkeley Square and the seventh Tamboureen. And, dropping in trip and with further improvement expected, Ana O’brien’s mount gets the vote in a competitive maiden.
Joseph O’brien’s Bachelor, the Michael Halford-trained Port Lions and Jim Bolger’s filly Dawn Hoofer all have obvious claims. But I’ll stick with the Ballydoyle colt.
The listed Lenebane Stakes, highlight of the track’s flat programme, affords Ballydoyle hope Exemplar a good opportunity to register his first success as a three-year-old.
Successful on his debut in Galway last year, he finished a creditable third to stable-companion and recent Irish Derby victor Capri in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes on his only subsequent juvenile start.
And, in his only outing this season, back in May, he was allowed take his chance in the Dante in York, where he finished a well-beaten eighth behind Permian.
With an official rating of 110, Exemplar is suited by today’s race conditions and should make a bold bid to score for Donnacha O’brien, in treble form at Naas on Saturday.
In the handicap action, Alans Pride, beaten a half-length by Path Of Silver in Tipperary last Thursday, appeals in the seven-furlong apprentice handicap while the lightly-raced Gustavus Vassa, runner-up to Elegant Pose at Gowran Park last week, might make a successful handicap debut in the Roscommon herald Handicap.
DAVY Russell took the honours with a superb treble in the opening three races in Limerick yesterday.
Russell clicked, on the double, for Gordon Elliott, on board An Caisteal Nuadh and Knockmaole Boy and followed-up when Denham Sound won a division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle.
Denham Sound is trained by Charles Byrnes, who completed a double when Rock On Fruity (Mark Enright) landed a gamble (16/1 to 7/1) in the featured Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase.
This victory crowned a good weekend for owner JP Mcmanus, who enjoyed a five-timer in Bellewstown on Saturday, with Galway Hurdle hope Tigris River, Aeglos and Tower Bridge, all trained by Joseph O’brien, plus the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Timiyan and Steamboat Quay. And Elliott completed his own treble with Its All Guesswork.