Altesse and Kevin Manning (near)© Photo Healy Racing
Perennial bridesmaid Altesse deservedly secured Listed honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes at Leopardstown.
Second on each of her three appearances last year, including in this race when it was run at Cork, Jim Bolger's 11-4 shot raced in third but appeared stretched when front-running outsider Island Remede kicked two furlongs from home.
She was eventually reeled in by Ballybacka Queen but Altesse had the last crack at them and came with a withering run to prevail by half a length.< Claudio Monteverdi confirmed the promise of his recent comeback in the Racecourse Of The Year Maiden.
The Ballydoyle inmate went into plenty of notebooks when fourth on the opening day of the season at the Curragh, which probably explains his 4-5 SP here, and he made his own running to see off Freeman by four and three-quarter lengths.< Shamreen was just ahead of Claudio Monteverdi at the Curragh so it was no surprise that she was a warm order at 5-4 for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
She moved to the lead around halfway but couldn't quite match Somehow (15-8) in the closing stages, who scored by a length and three-quarters to give Aidan O'Brien the second leg of a treble, which was completed when Ineffable (7-2) hung on by half a length in the Spin 1038 Handicap.< Va Pensiero (100-30) made it two from two in the Godolphin Student Initiative Handicap.
Successful at the first time of asking over a mile at Dundalk, dropping back a furlong and the switch to turf proved no hindrance to her progression and she held Prove The Point three-parts of a length at bay.< Jeremys Joy was a 25-1 stunner, absolutely trouncing her rivals in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, while Beechmount Whisper finally shed his maiden tag as the 5-2 favourite in the "Colours Bar" Handicap.
