The girls were certainly on top in the opening exchanges at Sligo where the first two winners were partnered by Olive Gaule and Cathy Gannon respectively.
Gaule (23) followed up her initial success aboard Guby's Star at Gowran Park in May when making all on Brown Corrig in the two-year-old fillies auction maiden. The Joe Crowley-trained filly took a strong hold in the opening stages but stayed on well in the straight to beat Pomeranze by two lengths.
'Olive did well as we planned to get onto the rail and she got the filly settled. She is in the Goffs Autumn Bonus (a 40,000 euro sales race at Cork on September 27), and we may give her a little break before that,' said Crowley.
Cathy Gannon has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, and she moved onto the seven winner mark for the season when Lady Prague landed a gamble in the claimer. The Eddie Lynam-trained filly, backed from 3/1 down to 2/1 favourite, found plenty when asked for an effort on the far rail in the straight drawing clear in the closing stages to beat Tango Step by three lengths. There were no claims afterwards for any of the 15 runners.
Portant Fella followed up a recent Flat win at Naas by defying top-weight in the two miles handicap hurdle, and landing some nice wagers in the process. 'He's a different horse on firm ground, and it's hard to believe they avoided the rain as it lashed all the way up here,' said trainer Joanna Morgan after the 6/4 favourite was confidently ridden by Barry Geraghty to head Erinella on the run-in for a two lengths victory. She added, 'He's a very sound horse and takes his racing well, so we may go for a mile handicap at Bellewstown on Thursday.'
Palouse is unlikely to turn out again over fences at Ballinrobe's rescheduled Tuesday fixture after landing the mile and a half handicap under Niall McCullagh. The seven-year-old grey gelding had led over a furlong out to beat well-backed favourite Kerry Way by a length and a half, and trainer Philip Rothwell said, 'He must have fast ground, and I knew he was in good order coming here today. He probably won't run at Ballinrobe as it looks like the ground will turn soft.'
Queens Musician surprised connections in the maiden hurdle when jumping to the front at the last under Robert Power to beat Spirit Of Texas by two and a half lengths. The 12/1 chance (paid over 67/1 on the Tote) was bought out of George Swinbank's yard last autumn, and trainer Pat Hughes said, 'He's still a maiden on the Flat, and will be a dual purpose horse for the summer.'
Alan Magee
