Seamie Heffernan extended his lead to three at this early stage of the jockeys championship when he was at his best guiding Sunshine Guest to victory in the Irish Open at Adare Manor EBF fillies handicap. The winner made all the running going clear before the straight under Heffernan and while Baby Blue Eyes and Home You Stroll both looked like posing a big threat turning in, Michael Grassick's charge went away again when asked for an effort by the jockey as the pair recorded a five length victory.
'Seamie rode her the last day and he knows her well and he was brilliant on her again today. She is very consistent when things go right and she is a very tough mare. We might go to Gowran Park for a race on Sunday, we will see how she is after this,' said Grassick.
Spanish Blue trained by Tom Hogan and ridden by Fran Berry landed the first division of the Ryans Event Cleaning Handicap over a mile and three furlongs. Prominent throughout, the winner led inside the final furlong and went on from Mean Machine and Western Shore scoring by three and a half lengths in the colours of the Stand Syndicate.
'This horse can be a bit lazy,' revealed Hogan. 'He nearly pulled himself up the last day at Wexford and David Casey suggested a tongue tie and that has definitely helped. I told Fran to push him along the whole way today and he done just that.'
The winning trainer also explained the absence of his winning owners, 'They are a Waterford based syndicate and they hired a bus up and it broke down in Clonmel so they had to watch the race in a bookmakers in Clonmel.'
While in the second division last seasons champion conditional jockey Chris Hayes recorded his sixth success of this current campaign aboard Qasbah for Harry Rogers. It was the first time in eleven attempts the six year old passed the judge in front and a summer campaign on the flat possibly mixed over hurdles is now on his agenda.
Indiana Girl (11/4f) made it third time lucky when she obliged in the Clohessy's Bar EBF Auction Maiden over seven furlongs. The Pat Martin trained filly appreciated the step up in trip and got the better of Lime Tree Valley in the closing stages to score by a head under Padraig Beggy.
Martin later revealed, 'She is a filly that has always shown a bit at home and that was a bit nerve wrecking but she got there in the end.'
A perfectly timed ride by Danny Grant got She's Our Mark off the mark in the opening race of the evening. Grant had settled his mount in the rear of the field and she was produced late to hit the front 100 yards from the line and score by a length from 4/1 co-favourites Princely Hero and Adelka who was a further three parts of a length back in third.
'She is a nice filly and Danny gave here a nice ride. We will go for a winners race now and probably step up to listed company then,' commented winning trainer Pat Flynn after the six furlong contest.
The Paddy Premium was a well supported winner of the first hurdle race on the programme. Trained in Co Tipperary by Mark Molloy and ridden by Davy Russell the winner opened up a 7/1 shot and went off 11/2 second favourite. Under a fine positive ride by Russell the seven year old Glacial Storm gelding went clear after the third last never to be troubled on the way to a five length success.
'I thought he was unlucky at Leopardstown back in January and also at Thurles in March, things just didn't go right for him and thankfully it worked out today. He is a nice horse that likes that ground but I wouldn't run him on firm,' said restricted trainer Molloy.
Despite not being overly fluent at the final flight Charlies First justified odds of even money to land the Dolans Warehouse Hurdle by a length and a quarter. Long time leader Dbest was a faller at the second last and although Pagan Magic and Waly's Own tried to close on the leader Barry Geraghty's mount always looked like the winner after the last.
By Niall Cronin
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