Bolger and Manning take the opener

Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning hit the ground running as Poetic Flare (2/1 jt fav) took the opening race of the 2020 Irish Flat season, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Coolcullen trainer has a good record in this juvenile event, and indeed the homebred winner’s sire Dawn Approach took it in 2012 when it was run at the Curragh.

Always travelling well close to the pace, the winner hit the front a furlong out and, after a good tussle with the other joint-favourite Lipizzaner, asserted close home to defeat that one by half a length. Early pacesetter The Blue Panther was four and a quarter lengths further back in third place.

The winner is closely-related to four-time (including dual Listed) winner Glamorous Approach (by New Approach).

“It was dead tacky ground. He was very straightforward and did that well. I'm very pleased with him,” said winning rider Kevin Manning.

“He knew his job. He'll be a bit better when he gets better ground and will appreciate stepping up in trip.

“Overall you'd be very happy with him. He was very professional and did that well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson