GROUP 1 SUCCESS FOR CROSSE
Cahir’s Shane Crosse notched up his third Group 1 success as the Joseph O’Brien-trained State Of Rest added to last season’s top-level wins in America and Australia when taking the Group 1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. The globetrotting four-yearold was running for the first time since his famous Cox Plate success at Moonee Valley in October and could reappear in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
Nathan Crosse had a winner of his own a little closer to home and he beat a Joseph O’Brientrained 30/100 favourite to get it. Teaming up with Jessica Harrington, Crosse won the concluding median auction maiden over the extended 10 furlong at Sligo on 9/1 chance Irish Lullaby which gamely held O’Brien’s Nusret to score by a head. Nathan said, “My brother had a Group 1 winner in France so this is my Group 1! I was very happy with her. She’s a lovely big filly with a big stride on her. She’s still plenty green and is big enough to be going around these small tracks so there should be plenty of improvement in her, she’d gallop all day.”
Paddy Twomey had earlier won the fillies’ handicap over the extended 10 furlongs with Rosscarbery, a 6/4 favourite on her handicap debut. The four-yearold added to her recent Dundalk maiden success when getting the better of the Tom Gibney-trained Atavique by half a length under Billy Lee.
Charleville trainer Mikey O’Connor sent out his first winner on the Flat as Der Mc scored a two-length success in the apprentice handicap over 13 furlongs. Ridden by Jack Cleary, the sixyear-old came from off the pace to win from the Ado McGuinness-trained Lariat at odds of 11/1. O’Connor said, “It’s nice to get this one on the board and it was a cool ride. Jack’s agent Ken Whelan told me this lad can ride and he was right! I only have the horse about six weeks and a great bunch of lads from Cork city own him. I’ve had a bit of luck for these owners before and win, lose or draw they enjoy their racing.”
Charles Byrnes and Kilmallock amateur rider Ray Barron combined to win the bumper at Punchestown on Friday with Green Glory which scored with plenty in hand. The 25/1 chance came from well off the pace to head the front-running O’Moore Park early in the straight and pulled away to win by three and three-parts of a length from the Robert Tyner-trained Passing Well at the line. The five-year-old winner carries the colours of the Come Home Sober Syndicate and Byrnes commented, “They are a lucky bunch of owners! He had a nice first run and was still very green. He had one or two niggly problems and that is why he didn’t come out till now. I thought he would be in the first three but couldn’t say he was going to win.”
O’CONNOR SUCCESS
Curraglass conditional rider Mike O’Connor record his 30th success of the season when giving his boss Henry de Bromhead a Punchestown festival winner on Wednesday last week. Life In The Park scored a comfortable success in the two and a halfmile opportunity handicap hurdle to give owner Barry Maloney his first winner since the de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo won the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The well-supported 9/2 chance raced up with the pace under O’Connor and quickened clear soon after the last to beat the Willie Mullins-trained Rock Road by a length and three-parts.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Tipperary – Thursday, May 5 (first race 5.15pm); Downpatrick – Friday, May 6 (first race 5.20pm); Cork – Friday, May 6 (first race 5.30pm); Cork – Saturday, May 7 (first race 2pm); Naas – Saturday, May 7 (first race 1.40pm); Leopardstown – Sunday, May 8 (first race 1.50pm).