- Tom Red
Joseph O’Brien, who had a treble in Leopardstown on Sunday, continued his good run in Lenabane on Monday with another treble, as the Roscommon racing season opened with a win for Dancing Destiny, trained by O’Brien and ridden by Declan McDonagh, in the EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (at 5/1).
In the handicap for 3-Y-O+, the 100/30jf Kitty Bear rode to victory for the third time this season by Orla Tynan for Andrew Slattery, and the first clear favourite followed up in the 4-Y-O+ handicap, with the Andy Oliver trained Sun Soldier, 9/4f, Billy Lee doing the steering.
Andrew Slattery completed a training double in the first division of the Athlone Handicap when Cisterna, 7/1, was ridden to victory by his son Andrew. Joseph O’Brien also completed a double in division 2 of the race, when the 5/2 favourite Substance and Dylan Browne McMonagle scored. The same combination won the EBF Median Auction Race for 3-Y-Os with another favourite Nil Bua Gan Dua at evens, giving O’Brien his treble and Browne McMonagle a double.
The Paddy Hill Apprentice Handicap was won by Gabriella Hill on Adrian McGuinness’s Doctor Grace at 11/1, and racing closed with a win for Jessica Harrington’s Marazion under Shane Foley at 5/2.
Roscommon card for Monday
Lenebane continues on Monday, with three races over the minimum distance of 7f, starting with a claiming 3-Y-O maiden, an Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden for 2-Y-O and a handicap for 4-Y-O+. Next up is the Michael ‘Tiger’ Lyons Memorial Maiden for 3-Y-O+ over 1m 2f, followed by the Connolly’s RED MILLS Handicap over the same distance. The Abbey Hotel Handicap is for 3-Y-Os only and run over 1m 4f. Two extended handicaps over 1m4f brings racing to a close. Take note that there might be a division of a race to give eight races.
Upcoming racing
This week’s racing starts this evening (Thursday) at Clonmel, with a National Hunt card at 5.20 pm. Tomorrow evening sees racing at Kilbeggan, with their usual National Hunt card at 4.45 pm, and on the flat at Leopardstown, with first race at 5.05 pm.
On Saturday, flat racing is at Navan at 1.12 pm and jump racing is in Wexford, off at 2.05 pm. Sunday racing is at Naas at 1.56 pm. On Monday evening, racing returns to Lenabane for their second meeting of the year, again on the flat.
Today (Thursday), there are five races from York, including two Group 2 races – the Middleton Stakes and the Dante Stakes – along with one race from Salisbury. Tomorrow (Friday) there are five more races from York, including the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes, and a race from Newbury being covered on ITV. On Saturday, they are covering five races from Newbury, including the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, with three races from Newmarket, including two Listed Races.
In Longchamp on Sunday, Aidan O’Brien had mixed luck, with Puerto Rico finishing only fourth in the French 2000 Guineas, but being victorious in the 1000 Guineas with Ryan Moore scoring on Diamond Necklace.
Chester’s three-day meeting started last Wednesday, with Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore having a double with Amelia Earhart, 13/8, and Benvenuto Cellini, 2/9, and they followed up on Thursday with an odds-on double with Constitution River, 2/9, and Jan Bruehgel, 4/7. Friday saw the pair bring their total for the festival to five, with Lambourn, 6/4f. Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle also scored with 7/1 chance A Piece Of Heaven.
On Sunday, Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle scored that treble in Leopardstown referred to earlier, with Cannes, 4/5f, James J Braddock, 9/1, and Johanna Walsh at 9/4f.
Racing news
Aidan O’Brien has named the Chester winner Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard as his two most likely Epsom runners at this stage, with Constitution River most likely to go to the Prix du Jockey Club – the French equivalent – in Chantilly on May 31st (a week earlier).
Competition time
This week, tickets for Roscommon on Monday next have been won by Bernie Heavey, Seamus O’Donnell, and Paul Finnegan, who regularly enter the competition. Please collect your tickets in the office.
For a chance to win tickets for Kilbeggan on May 31st, tell us on which Paris racecourse does the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas take place? Answers as usual should be submitted via postcard to the Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon, or by email to tomred17@gmail.com by 5 pm on Tuesday, May 26th.
Don’t forget to include your name, address, and a contact phone number with all competition entries. Tickets to be collected in the office in Abbey Street, Roscommon.
