Finsceal Beo became only the second filly to claim both Irish and English 1000 Guineas when she put in a tremendous performance to land the Irish Classic at the Curragh yesterday. The showers of rain which covered the Kildare track prior to the race were a slight concern to many put the Michael Ryan owned heroine showed just how good she is when battling all the way to the line to score by a neck.
Kevin Manning settled Finsceal Beo in mid division in the early stages of the contest and two furlongs out it looked ominous as she stalked the leaders. But the winner was made to work by 66/1 shot Dimenticata and Chris Hayes.
The Living Legend held on - that is what Finsceal Beo means in English and that is what Jim Bolger's dual Guineas winner is in horseracing. Afterwards the Carlow based trainer said, 'She is the best I have had over a mile and she is ahead of some good company.'
He continued, 'I don't think it would be beyond all capabilities that the European race planners could put two weeks between each of the three Guineas and make it a triple crown for fillies. She won't go to Royal Ascot and I will be consulting Michael Ryan before deciding where to go next.'
Jim Bolger did outline possible future engagements, 'I would be thinking of the Pretty Polly or some such race. I will not be giving an opinion on stepping up to a mile and a quarter until I speak to Kevin (Manning). If we are going to step her up we won't be going to the Coronation Stakes but that would become a possibility if she does not step up.'
Of the ground concerns Bolger stated, 'She is not quite as good on that ground and is better on better ground.'
While a delighted Kevin Manning said, 'That was fantastic, she has the temperament and really just has everything - she is the full package.'
2006 Irish Derby winner Dylan Thomas was the warm favourite of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup but Aidan O Brien's charge went down to 7/1 joint second favourite Notnowcato trained by Sir Michael Stoute. It was the second leg of a double for Johnny Murtagh who had earlier landed the first race on the card and he settled the five year old to track the leaders before disputing the lead a furlong and a half out.
It was Dylan Thomas he disputed that lead with and the pair went clear of the rest of the field as they battled it out in the dying stages. It was a ding-dong battle but the gutsy Notnowcato held on in a thrilling finish to score by a head.
Sir Evelyn owner of the Southcourt Stud that bred the winner and father of the absent owners Anthony and David Rothschild afterwards showed his delight, 'That was a wonderful ride from a wonderful jockey, and the finish was as good as you would get. He will be entered in the Prince Of Wales at Royal Ascot and the Eclipse but we will have to talk to the trainer first.'
The Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes gave connections of Dylan Thomas some compensation when Alexander Of Hales showed some tough battling qualities to get up and beat stable companion Spanish Harlem by half a length.
The Danehill colt got into some traffic problems when looking for a gap between Yeamans Hall and Spanish Harlem and when the gap eventually developed it looked to be to late but Seamie Heffernan's mount put the head down and went on to get up in the dying strides.
'He is a tough horse who is still improving and he is entered in the French Derby but we will have to see how he is tomorrow before making any decisions.'
Saoirse Abu was the first leg of an eventual double for Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger. Just like 1000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo, Saoirse Abu is a Mr Greeley filly and she tracked the leaders before hitting the front well over a furlong out soon going clear to score by an impressive four lengths.
'I would hope she will make a good type filly but we won't get carried away yet,' remarked Bolger. 'She wants a mile but she is running over six as we will be going to Naas next for the Swordlestown.'
Mick Halford got the day off to a good start when landing the spoils in the opening Boylecasino.com Handicap over six furlongs with front-runner Whchwood Wanderer. The four year old filly by Barathea was trying a change of tactics under Johnny Murtagh and they clearly worked as she took it up early and went on to score by three lengths.
Halford afterwards said, 'The cheek pieces made a difference today and Johnny thought the last day they could make the difference along with a straight track. So we were waiting a while to find a race and she done it well thankfully.'
Meanwhile King Rama who was passing the judge in front for the seventh time won the Boylesports 115 Nationwide Premier Handicap over a mile and half and this was by the narrowest of margins.
It looked as if Princess Nala was after stealing the race just over a furlong out but Michael Kinane aboard John Kiely's reliable six year old collared that late on.
'This is an unbelievable horse how he can keep improving and how far it will go on I just don't know. We will come back here for the Premier Handicap on Derby day and that will be the real test for him. We also had the right jockey on him today, Mick knows him so well.'
The most impressive winner of the afternoon was the well-supported Timarwa who justified the confidence to land the concluding Boylesports.com Maiden completing a late double for jockey Michael Kinane. John Oxx's filly had been withdrawn at the start previously having refused to load into the stalls but today despite a slight scare, she loaded and went on to score by three lengths.
'She is a nice filly and the only issue with her is going into the stalls. It was thanks to Gary Witherford that she loaded today. He is an English based man who specialises in that and he went to the start with her today and will probably have to be with her for all her runs now.'
While Pat Flynn has had his runners in good form of late and he landed the penultimate Boylesports.com Handicap over a mile with She's Our Mark.
By Niall Cronin
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