Dolmur booked his place in the first domestic classic of the season when taking the Glanbia Classic Trial, the first leg of a double for jockey Seamus Heffernan at Gowran Park yesterday afternoon.
Persistent rain made conditions very testing at the County Kilkenny venue, and a sedate pace was set in the four-runner feature. Heffernan delayed his challenge until inside the final quarter mile on Dolmur, and Tony Mullins' charge held off outsider Icklingham by a neck.
'That didn't tell us much but, if there is any cut in the ground, he will go for the Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was probably over the top when he ran in the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury last autumn, and is a heavy type who will always need some cut in the ground,' said Mullins.
Heffernan initiated his 11/1 double in the opening colts' maiden where Septimus Severus led before the furlong pole before holding on by a fast-diminishing head from Uncle Tiny.
Olive Gaule (23) partnered her first winner when Guby's Star caused a real shock in the Avonmore Milk Plus Handicap. The Eamonn Sheehy-trained filly was the complete outsider of the nine-runner field at 33/1, paid over 60/1 on the Tote, and despite hanging inside the final quarter mile just held off the well-backed favourite Definite Spectacle by a short-head.
The soft ground proved no problem to Blue Reema in the fillies maiden, with Tadhg O'Shea's mount stretching clear in the closing stages to beat Amandian by four and a half lengths.
The first race of the new National Hunt season went to Sam Curling aboard Bodakker, who led at the last in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Handicap Hurdle to account for Cheeky Lady by a length and a half.
Champion trainer Noel Meade started the new campaign in good fashion when Father Abraham readily took the Yoplait Everybody Maiden Hurdle under Ian Power.
Alan Magee
