Nothing Lucid about Ryan’s Dream at Killarney

Ben Coen landed a double at Roscommon on Tuesday where he rode winners for trainers Johnny Murtagh and Tony Martin.

He had a relatively easy time on both, partnering 11/8 chance Hazalaya to a three and a quarter-length success over the Ken Condon-trained even-money favourite Muhaarar’s Girl in the seven-furlong fillies and mares’ three-year-old maiden, before taking the concluding Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap over 12 furlongs on the Tony Martin-trained Secret Rock which beat Harry Rogers’ Naralita by a length and a half.

Trainer Andy Slattery won the opening claiming race over the extended 10 furlongs with the Eight Star Syndicate-owned Khafaaq. A strong favourite in the hands of Cian Horgan, the eight-year-old led early in the straight to beat Denis Hogan’s Bal De Rio by a length and three-parts.

Sean Bowen took the seven-furlong handicap on the Ray McSharry-owned Yermanthere. The joint-favourite had a little in hand as he went clear from the furlong pole to beat the Michael Grassick-trained Loingseoir.

Aidan O'Brien had a good day on Thursday, winning at Group 1 level with Warm Heart at York and also landing the feature race at Killarney later that evening. Youghal jockey Killian Hennessy was in the saddle as Salt Lake City scored a narrow victory in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes. It was tight at the line as the 5/1 chance just go up to beat Joseph O'Brien’s Didn’thavemuchtodo by a head.

The champion trainer was also among the winners at Leopardstown where the Seamie Heffernan-ridden favourite Content landed the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden for two-year-olds.

Also at Killarney, trainer Mark Cahill won the 14-furlong apprentice handicap with Jake Peters. In the familiar colours of his owner/breeder Frank McNulty, the nine-year-old led close to the finish under Alan Persse to beat the John Murphy-trained pair Chatterbox and Barometer by a neck and half a length.

The well-known silks of owner Justin Carthy were carried to success by the Denis Hogan-trained Almuhit in the concluding two-mile amateur riders’ race. The 13/2 chance was another to come with a late run and Derek O'Connor produced him with a timely challenge to beat John Nallen’s Minella Mate by half a length.

At Killarney on Friday, John Ryan took the two-mile seven-furlong novice hurdle with Lucid Dreams. Littleton jockey Liam Quinlan had an easy time of it on the eight-year-old which led just before the final hurdle to beat Henry de Bromhead’s favourite Tag Man, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, by three and three-parts of a length.

Philip Fenton and Gortnahoe conditional jockey Niall Moore scored a narrow success with Good As Hell in the two-mile one-furlong handicap chase. Owned by James Moran, the 8/1 chance battled well from the final fence to win by a head from the John Gleeson-trained Jack Holiday.

Denis Hogan and Daniel King won the two-mile three-furlong novice hurdle with the Martin Cooney-owned Thecompanysergeant at Kilbeggan on Friday. The six-year-old landed his fourth career success with a comfortable two and a quarter-length win over the Bill Durkan-trained Baltic Bird.

Aidan O'Brien landed a Grade 1 success in America with Bolshoi Ballet on Saturday and closer to home he won two Group 3 races at the Curragh only hours earlier. The champion trainer took the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes for two-year-olds with the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Opera Singer, the even money favourite had loads in hand as she beat her own stable companion Brilliant by six and a half lengths.

Heffernan was also on board as the three-year-old Red Riding Hood won the Snow Fairy Stakes in contrasting fashion. The 14/1 shot had to dig deep as she held off the Joseph O'Brien-trained favourite American Sonja by a neck.

Joining Aidan O'Brien as a Group 3 winner on the card was Paddy Twomey who landed the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes with the Alymer Stud-owned Letsbefrankaboutit. The Billy Lee-ridden favourite headed the Diego Dias-trained front-runner Mansa Musa inside the final furlong to win by half a length on just his second outing.

At Naas on Sunday, Nathan Crosse gave trainer Jessica Harrington the first of her two winners when partnering 22/1 chance Matter Of Fact to beat Aidan O'Brien’s odds-on favourite Sweetest by three-parts of a length in the near six-furlong fillies’ maiden.

Shane Foley had an easier time of it as odds-on favourite Ocean Quest took the Group 3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes by three and three-parts of a length from Fozzy Stack’s Aussie Girl to complete the Harrington double.

Ben Coen and Johnny Murtagh began the week with an 11/8 winner at Roscommon and they captured the three-year-old handicap over 10 furlongs with Take Heart which was returned at the same price. The three-year-old raced up with the pace and led from the two-furlong marker to win by a length and three-parts from Jim Bolger’s Golden Spangle.

Upcoming Meetings

Cork – Wednesday, August 30 (First Race 2.15pm)

Bellewstown – Wednesday, August 30 (First Race 4.05pm)

Navan – Thursday, August 31 (First Race 2.35pm)

Wexford – Friday, September 1 (First Race 4.15pm)

Down Royal – Friday, September 1 (First Race 4.25pm)

Navan – Saturday, September 2 (First Race 2.15pm)

Tipperary – Sunday, September 3 (First Race 2pm)