Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger dominated the early proceedings at a cloudy Sligo when taking the opening two maiden races with Brand New Beat and Benicio.
Brand New Beat landed odds of 9/10 in the opening two-year-old auction maiden, leading off the home turn and stretching clear to comfortably beat Tashadelek by four-and-a-half-lengths. Dragon Inn Dancer, the second favourite, lost any chance when Rachel Costello's saddle slipped at the halfway point.
Manning moved onto the 19 winner mark for the campaign aboard Benicio in the six-and-a-half furlongs maiden. The Spectrum gelding also led entering the straight, and stayed on well to beat the flattering favourite Hazelhatch by two-and-a-half-lengths.
Keithara made all to provide Jerry O'Dwyer with his fifth winner of the season in the mile-and-three-quarters maiden. Michael Grassick's charge was ridden clear approaching the straight, and she kept on really well to score by eight lengths from the staying on Dusty Diamond.
Grassick was represented by his son and namesake who said, 'The first time blinkers helped her to concentrate, and front-running suits her as she doesn't like the hustle and bustle among horses. Jerry gave her a very good ride, and she stays well.'
David Casey showed his Flat counterparts a clean pair of heels when partnering top-weight Fascinating to take the three-year-olds' mile-and-a-half handicap. 'The hardest think was trying to pull her up!' quipped Casey after the Eddie Lynam-trained filly completed another lap of the track having been prominent throughout and stretched clear in the final furlong to beat Sapata by six lengths.
'Eddie told me that she's inclined to pull a bit, and she was very keen going to the start. She stays well and could make a nice little hurdler,' added Casey with a twinkle in his eye.
Dual bumper winner The Joker, trained in County Down by Joe Magee and ridden by his second cousin Eamon, came from off the pace to take the maiden hurdle by 13 lengths.
This two miles event was weakened by the absence of Sky To Sea (lame), while well-backed 6/4 favourite Good Fortune fell when holding every chance three out. 'His blood wasn't 100 percent last week but he tried to kick the dog this morning which is a good sign. He will stick to novice hurdles, and should make a chaser some day. He likes Ayr, and we will probably dodge between Scotland and over here,' said Magee, whose eight in training are mainly point-to-pointers.
There was a terrific finish to the two-and-a-half miles handicap hurdle, with It Was'nt Me rallying on the run-in under a powerful ride by Barry Geraghty to touch off Kind Word by a neck.
Alan Magee
