RACING at Killarney on Monday began with a gripping finish between the favourites Samba Train (Áine O’Connor, 2-1) and Poetic Twist (Jack Kennedy 9-4). The former, trained by Enda Bolger in Bruree, just gained a neck verdict after a duel the length of the homestretch in the mares’ maiden hurdle. Askeaton-raised jockey O’Connor said on Racing TV: “That’s three wins I have had on her. She is brilliant, a lovely honest mare. Jack kicked on early but I was happy to sit back and let
him go. She jumped the last two well and she was always going to stay, going up in trip. Enda targets Killarney every year and she was primed for today.” Bolger added: “It’s not easy for a girl to be upsides Jack Kennedy going to the last, but Áine excelled. Today was the plan. Her owner (Sir Francis Brooke) loves Listowel and we will work towards that. We might try to get black type with her.” Bolger notched a double when Solitary Man (6-4 favourite)
won the hunters’ chase in the colours of Mrs Paul Shanahan. Josh Halford, a Grade 2 winner at the Punchestown Festival a fortnight earlier, did the honours in the saddle on the prolific gelding who won by length and a half. READ NEXT: Limerick’s Paddy Donovan eyes Crocker trilogy following impressive win in Germany “I think the horse enjoyed it as much as I did!” Halford laughed. “He loves this track, that is his third win here. He really comes alive in Killarney.” Another western-trained
winner surfaced in Sligo on Tuesday as The Eggler battled to a half-length success in the 2m4f handicap hurdle. Stabled with Brian McMahon who is based just south of Gort near the border with Co Clare, this was a first win for his five-year-old. County Meath conditional jockey James Smith took the ride on the 13-2 chance. The Eggler is owned by the Horses and Hurling Syndicate including Anthony Cunningham, the All-Ireland winning player and manager for Galway. The horse is likely be targeted at
the Galway Races later in the summer. Sun Soldier is developing into a reliable middle-tier handicapper and he scored on his second start of the year last Monday, taking the handicap for older horses over 7.5 furlongs. Leading jockey Billy Lee and Co Tyrone trainer are regular allies and the pair clicked with a horse that won by a convincing two-lengths-plus margin as the 9-4 favourite. “He jumped out of the gates nicely. I was happy to take a lead on him. He travelled and
picked up well. I got there soon enough on him but the main thing here is to keep them rolling forward and he galloped out well. He might be one for Galway,” Lee said. Two winners from three winners in the space of four day for Quin trainer Donie Hassett. Loi Des Jeuxlanded the 2m3f handicap hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday with Danny Mullins making it a double on the card. Owned by Darragh McDonagh, Loi Des Jeux won by about two lengths at odds
of 15-8. “We wouldn’t be running him back on that good ground again. He’s a heavy sort of horse and we would like to mind him and go on slower ground. He is a horse we like. There could be a good chase in him down the line,” said Brian Hassett, son of the trainer, said on Racing TV. “There is a lot more to come from him.” Mo Ghille Mar popped up for a first win over hurdles and her first for trainer Shark
Hanlon when taking one of the 2m1f handicap hurdles at Wexford on Saturday. This mare was quite useful on the Flat for owners Bronsan Racing and trainer Jessica Harrington to win three times and reach a peak rating of 92. Her first few runs for her new stable were a touch underwhelming which probably explains her starting price of 22-1 at the weekend. Newcastle West jockey Gary Noonan made virtually all the running on the mare who had just over three lengths to spare at
the line.
Killarney, Samba Train, Áine O’Connor, Enda Bolger, Solitary Man, Josh Halford, The Eggler, James Smith, Sun Soldier, Billy Lee, Loi Des Jeux, Danny Mullins, Mo Ghille Mar, Gary Noonan