Tadhg O'Shea is enjoying a successful first season as a fully fledged jockey having won the apprentice title for the past two years, and recorded his 16th win of the current campaign aboard Lady Portia in the two-year-old auction maiden.
The John Quinn-trained filly showed much improved form compared to her debut here last month, quickening off the home turn to beat Mrs St George by three lengths. 'Our filly was nearly knocked over the last day and we lost our money. We had nothing left to back her today,' said the Curragh handler, although the College Chapel filly was nibbled at in the market from 8/1 to 7/1.
The placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry into an incident turning out of the back straight involving the first three home, although O'Shea was advised to take more care in future.
The two miles handicap proved an incident packed event, with the start being delayed by eight minutes when Hammering ran loose after rearing up and unseating Richie Kiely. The seven-year-old gelding ran freely before weakening to finish 12th behind Amandas Princess. Wayne Lordan got a rush of blood to the head when riding a finish on Sophiyah with a circuit still to go, and the stewards hit him with a three days suspension (June 18-20) and ordered him to forfeit his riding fee.
Pat Smullen improved his tally to 21, five behind championship leader John Murtagh, when giving Tara's Gift a powerful drive to collar Queen For A Day close home in the nine furlongs handicap. The Michael Cunningham-trained mare was recording her third handicap win this season, and Smullen commented, 'The ground is heavy but she got through it well, and really struck her head out.'
Goss, runner-up to Stage Affair at Punchestown, went one better in the beginners chase when heading Murrayfield on the run-in to score by two lengths in the hands of Barry Geraghty. 'He was a bit keen early but settled in after that, and will probably go handicapping now,' said trainer Michael O'Brien's assistant Denis Cullen.
Green Belt Flyer was well supported (5/2 to 7/4) in the maiden hurdle, and justified the confidence when smoothly leading two out under Robert Power for a comfortable nine length victory over Amanpuri. 'He's a nice horse, a winter type, and I'll give him a break until about September before going novice hurdling,' said trainer Jessica Harrington.
Mallow permit holder Arthur O'Grady saddled his second winner when Muscadier battled gamely in the mud for Davy Russell to touch off Heavenly Comet by a neck in the handicap hurdle. 'He won a point-to-point last year, and that handled that ground well. We'll try to win another handicap with him,' said O'Grady.
Alan Magee
