Tennyson makes the breakthrough in first time blinkers First time blinkers had the desired effect on Alfred Tennyson, as he made the breakthrough on his fifth start in the opener at Limerick, the Darren's Way Maiden. Having shown ability as a juvenile, the Aidan O'Brien-trained bay disappointed on his return to action at the Curragh in March, finishing ninth on soft ground. Upped to seven-furlongs for the first time this afternoon, the Starspangledbanner colt proved very easy-to-back, drifting from 6/4 in early shows to a starting price of 4/1. Racing mainly in second under Jack Cleary, he improved into a share of the lead early in the straight and gained an outright advantage with a furlong and a half to go, keeping on well from there to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths. The well-backed Knockmark (5/6 favourite from 7/4 early) had to settle for second under James Ryan for Ger Lyons, while the Joseph O'Brien-trained Aeon's Aegis (7/2) was another length-and-a-quarter back in third. "The plan was to go forward with him and he seemed to enjoy doing that, with the blinkers on. As we straightened up, I gave him a slap down the shoulder and he was really game to the line," Cleary reflected. "The blinkers help keep his eye on the job. "He is a nice horse going forward." STEWARDS REPORT * M.W Hassett, rider of Sweet Bay, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right in the straight. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
