Brennan strikes again as Ballintemple scores

The 12/1 shot Ballintemple Star followed up on his recent good effort at Gowran, where he finished second to Like the Da, by taking the Laurels Bar Maiden Hurdle for his Lusk, Co Dublin based trainer, James Brennan.

The son of Basanta (who also sired yesterday's bumper winner Owega Star) was prominent throughout and challenged the leader and eventual second Rockofinspiration 3 from home, before staying on best to win by two lengths at the finish with Conor Maxwell aboard.

The well supported 6/4fav, Saved By John for Terence O’Brien & Robbie Power could only manage third.

The winning trainer said afterwards, “That is my second winner in the last week (Information won at Roscommon last Monday) and I only have two horses. I had a third as well. Long may it last!

"He is a grand little horse, he may have preferred an ease in the ground. He might be a Galway horse.”

Donal Murphy