Rory Cleary rider of Bunairgead© Photo Healy Racing
Bunairgead under Rory Cleary, ran out a good winner of the feature Listed Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon this evening, providing her trainer Jim Bolger with a double on the card (won the first with Home School . The three-year-old daughter of New Approach finished a creditable eighth behind Just The Judge in the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May and she was last seen finishing a close up third behind Venus De Milo in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial late last month. Stepped up in trip to a mile and a half for the first time, she was available at 6/1 this morning, opening on-course at 11/2 before going off at 9/2. Settled in third behind leader Missunited she closed entering the straight and travelled strongly behind the leaders. She came with her challenge between horses from two furlongs out, soon hitting the front and staying on well from there to draw clear in the final furlong. El Salvador (11/4) finished two and three parts of a length back in second under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan, while Majenta was three parts of a length back in third at 14/1 under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast. Qewy went off the well-supported 5/2 favourite (was 6/1 last night with Paddy Power) but he finished a disappointing sixth under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx. Missunited opened the 11/4 favourite last night with Paddy Power but she drifted out to 9/2 on-course having opened at 4/1. After attempting to make all she faded away tamely over a furlong out, coming home last of the eight. Rory Cleary said afterwards: "She travelled great for me all the way and I got a lovely split at the right time. She put the race to bed fairly quickly."
After the race Seamie Heffernan was given a three day ban by the Stewards for using his whip with his arm above shoulder height aboard Missunited.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
