Sorrentino off the mark in style under Colin Keane The Willie Mullins trained Sorrentino recorded the first Flat win of his career when easily landing the Horse & Jockey Maiden at Thurles. A former bumper winner, the Ballylinch Stud owned gelding had been runner-up on two of his previous three starts on the level. Held up in mid division by Colin Keane, the 7/4 chance made rapid headway on the outside of runners to go second entering the straight. Pushed along to head Dream On Baby over two furlongs out, the son of New Bay stayed on strongly to win by eight-and-a-half lengths. Keane reduced the lead of Dylan Browne McMonagle in the title race to five after this success. Colin Keane said: "He looked nice when he won his bumper and he probably bumped into a couple of good ones along the way then. I'd say the nicer ground suited him. "He struggled for the first half of the race but climbing the hill he jumped on the bridle. I thought there was nothing coming from behind so I thought I'd get him up and rolling, and he hit the line well. "Over these sort of trips on the Flat, you'd like to think he'll be a nice horse for Flat handicaps next summer." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
