John Oxx and John Murtagh teamed up for a double on day two of the September meeting at Ballybrit, highlighted by the victory of Bowmore in the Listed Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes.
The Currabeg handler saddled half of the six runner line-up in the e60,000 feature following the withdrawl of both Sorcerous and Slaney Sand due to the testing ground conditions, and Bowmore was sent off the well-backed 6/4 favourite.
Stable-companion Tarifana set a sensible pace in this mile and a half event, and was headed off the home turn by Bowmore who stayed on well to beat Mutakarrim by two lengths. The Desert King colt, who returned to the winners enclosure with blood gushing from a cut to his off hind, may be stepped up to Group 2 company next month for a mile and mile and seven furlongs race on 'Arc' weekend at Longchamp. 'He stays well, and was suited by the cut in the ground,' said Oxx, who also revealed that the colt is entered in the Autumn Sales at Newmarket.
The Oxx/Murtagh combination were on the mark again half-an-hour later with Englishtown, who just got the better of a protracted duel in the final quarter mile with Twogoodreasons in the juvenile maiden. 'He ran sleepily on his debut at the Curragh, and improved a good bit from the run. He may go for a nursery next,' said Oxx.
A gamble was landed in the Donnellys Of Barna Nursery where Bricks And Porter, available at 14/1 in morning price lists, justified 4/1 favouritism under Tom Queally. John Quinn's charge traveled sweetly to lead in the straight, and kept on strongly to beat Pesante by four lengths.
Barrow Drive made all under Barry Geraghty in the Deacy Concannon Novice Chase before outstaying Doesheknow on the long run-in to score by three lengths. 'I was anxious about the trip (two miles and one furlong) as it's a bit short for him,' said trainer Tony Mullins, who will now target a valuable novice chase at Tipperary on October 6 for the six-year-old.
Alan Magee
