A mud splattered Kevin Manning after winning aboard Beyond Thankful in the opener at Roscommon© Photo Healy Racing
Beyond Thankful (3/1 into 9/4 on track) shed his maiden tag on third time of asking as he took the opener at Roscommon this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2yo Maiden.
Trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, the son of Whipper finished a creditable fifth on his debut at Leopardstown in June behind Theatre before he finished a good third on heavy ground at Listowel last time out behind Flameseeker.
On heavy ground again today, he raced towards the rear early on before moving into mid-division.
He was pushed along in eighth at the halfway stage but he responded well to pressure and was fourth with two furlongs left to race.
He stayed on well to hit the front over a furlong out and kept on strongly to assert inside the final furlong and win by a comfortable four and a half lengths at the line.
The Aidan O’Brien trained, Joseph O’Brien ridden Fortify was sent off the 11/10 favourite and he attempted to make all but could offer no more when headed by the winner.
He plugged on to take second while the Kevin Prendergast trained Frozen North finished a further two and a quarter lengths back in third at 16/1 under Chris Hayes.
Winning rider Kevin Manning said afterwards: "He did it well and has improved and strengthen up from his Listowel run. He is typical of those types that improve from run to run. We will see what mark he gets now."
Manning went on to comment on the ground conditions saying: "It is hard work out there."
(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
