Potential Galway Plate holpefuls were on show at Killarney today in the Gleneagle Hotel Steeplechase with Edward O'Grady's Go Roger Go prevailing from 1999 Plate winner Moscow Express.
Carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, Go Roger Go jumped well and eventually won by an easy six lengths prompting McManus' racing manager Frank Berry to state 'we couldn't be happier with him. He travelled sweetly and handled that ground well. He'll now run in the Galway Plate.' Berry also mentioned that 2001 winner of the Galway feature, Grimes, is also on track for the race with both horses set to carry 11st02lbs.
Jockey Mick Kinane timed his run to perfection on Key To The Kingdom when winning the Kerry Tourism Handicap. Declan Gillespie's gelding has been consistent all season and is described by the Curragh handler as being 'a tough sort.'
The Kevin O'Brien trained Nijinsky Dancer justified strong market support (4/1 - 3/1) when winning the opening 2m4f Maiden Hurdle. Garret Cotter's mount outstayed front running Hehasalife after the last to win by three and a half lengths for first time racehorse owner John Carroll.
Peter Casey's Blessyourpinksox battled well inside the final furlong to defeat Aidan O'Brien's 9/10 favourite Denver in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for jockey Seamus Heffernan.
In the other Flat races, permit trainer Gerard Kennedy's homebred filly La Shalak
defeated Moojax while 9/2 shot Chain, under Niall McCullagh, defeated the gambled on Braningham (3/1 - 2/1) in the 2m1f Handicap.
The concluding bumper was won by Oscar's Advance under J.P.Magnier. The win was providing trainer Margaret Mullins with her first training success from this her fourth runner. Mullins, whose long list of useful horses she has broken includes Vintage Tipple, described Oscar's Advance as being 'very smart'.
Thomas Weekes.
