Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen warmed up for Saturday's Epsom Derby in double winning style at Leopardstown this evening when they won the opening two races on the card with Oversighted and Military Option.
With the Aidan O'Brien pair Tumblebrutus and Day Of The Cat withdrawn to the change in ground conditions, the opening 6f maiden was reduced to 8 runners with Mick Halford's newcomer Caparo starting at 9/4f (from 11/4).
Victory, though, went to newcomer Oversighted (5/2-3/1) which led turning in and stayed on well under Pat Smullen to comfortably turn over the market principal by a snug 3/4L
'He's a big strong horse who will get 7f in time and he'll come on for the run. He'll go next for the Railway Stakes on Irish Derby day (29th June),' said Weld of Oversighted, who summed up the performance by adding, 'he had the race won turning in.'
Weld, who later captured the 7f 3yo maiden with Military Option after the 4/1 shot battled on gamely close home to pip market leader Kubaan by the minimum margin, is looking forward to Saturday.
'Refuse To Bend is in good form and the track is absolutely perfect. I know 4mm of rain fell there today but I wouldn't want too much more for my fellow as there is a slight doubt about him staying.'
There was a sting in the tail for Smullen after the Glencairn Stakes when he was adjudged to have ridden carelessly in the straight aboard One More Round which finished third behind winner Mr Houdini.
The Offaly rider picked up a two day ban which rules him out of action on Friday 14th (Wexford & Navan) and Saturday 14th (Cork).
Oliver Finnegan, who tasted his first Listed race success with Mr Houdini remarked, 'The slow enough pace early on suited him. He's a horse that swims every day and we put him in a Group 3 race at the Curragh on Oaks day and we'll mind him until then.'
Last month's Navan 1m6f scorer Rainbow Dash, which cost just 7,000 gns at the Newmarket Autumn Sales after running 3 times for Sir Michael Stoute, stayed on well under Pat Cosgrave to defeat a gallant Bob Justice in the 2m handicap with uneasy Simply Honest (5/4-7/4f) a well beaten 8th.
Winning trainer Tom McCourt said, 'He's an improving horse and the extra two furlongs brought out the best in him. We had toyed with the Queen Alexander but we'll also have a look at the Ascot Stakes. He's an out and out stayer.'
Masandam (3/1-5/1),which shouldered top-weight of 9-9 was just touched off by light-weight Carranduff and Sean Cleary in the dying strides of the 1m June Handicap while Royal Alphabet (5/4-4/5f) landed the odds in the finale in the hands of Jamie Codd.
