Sporting the colours Rachel O’Neill, Dime A Dozen gained an overdue success when taking the opening Weatherbys Ireland five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, providing handler Shark Hanlon with the first leg of an across the card treble.
The daughter of Jeremy, who had finished second on her previous three starts, made much of the running with Harley Dunne keeping it simple at the head of affairs.
The recently turned five-year-old picked up smartly in the home straight to come home two lengths clear of Sadhbh’s Delight who filled the runner-up berth.
“I think the world of this filly and she will probably go to the sales,” said the successful handler.
Following a winner under rules at Punchestown, Carlow handler Hanlon enjoyed his third winner of the afternoon in the Sean Kenny, Central House, Shillelagh winner of one when Woodbrook Boy ran out a comfortable seven-length winner in the hands of Tom Hamilton.
Having somewhat unusually broken his maiden at Barbury Castle last month, the Rachel O’Neill-owned gelding picked up the running five-out, before quickening up to win comfortably from Coach Road who finished back in second.
The delighted Carlow handler said: “It’s been a good day and I think he is one of my best five-year-old’s. He will go to the sales now.”
The Milestown Racing Partnership–owned Eclair Des Sablons bounced back to form in the Tattersalls Ireland five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Trained by Colin Bowe, the €42,000 store had finished a fine second at Lisronagh on his penultimate start, before disappointing last time out at Lingstown.
On what was his fifth start, the son of Noroit cut out all the running, before battling on gamely in the home straight to see off the challenge of Whatsupwithyou by a length and a half.
Winning rider Barry O’Neill said: “He put it all together here and I think that the stiff finish suited him. He made a mistake early the last day and just got no rhythm and around Lingstown they can just quicken away from you, so I wasn’t hard on him when his race was over. We fancied him for today and it all came together for him.”
Kruzhlininn maintained his unbeaten record between-the-flags when taking the Slaney Foods open, providing Barry O’Neill with a quick double on the day.
Owned by Camilla Sharples and trained by Gordon Elliott, the 12-year-old was never too far away from the pace, before easing clear to beat former champion pointer Anseanachai Cliste by an easy ten lengths.
Having finished third in a Down Royal hunter chase over Christmas, the son of Sholokov in now four from four in this sphere.
Representative Simon McGonagle said: “That was grand. He jumped well and I suppose he will run away in point-to-points now for the rest of the year and we’ll see what happens. Camilla (Sharples) is up in Punchestown looking after things, so she will be delighted with that.”
Novice rider Cathal McCormack has enjoyed a great start to his career, riding his second winner from just six rides between the flags, when Sean Thyne took the Germaines Hotel, Baltinglass seven-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The Thomas Coyle-trained eight-year-old had finished fifth in this contest 12 months ago, before contesting a number of maiden hurdles over the summer months.
Making her seasonal debut here, the Urban and Rural Boys Syndicate-owned mare was given a patient ride before picking up the runner two-out, ultimately coming home six-lengths in front of The Kitchenmechanic.
The concluding Sheridan Colohan Insurances & Casey Enterprises seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders, saw Jamie Scallan partner his second winner of the season aboard Barrells Buoy.
Owned and trained by Leo Doyle, the seven-year-old was getting off the mark at the 10th time of asking, having shown some promise to date.
The son of Publisher made every post a winning one before recording a three-length success over Tintern Trails.
“We wanted to be nice and handy with him to day as he has disappointed a good few times. He is a careful jumper, but he jumped better today. The hill was a big help here. We bred him and for a winners race now,” said the Wexford handler.
