Craft Irish records third career success

Craft Irish recorded her third career success, as she claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap.

Trained in Co Kilkenny by Pat Murphy and owned by J & J Racing Partnership, the bay victor made the breakthrough on her second start at Dundalk in February and again hit the target at Sligo in June.

Fourth on her most recent outing at Leopardstown, she was sent off an 11/2 chance this afternoon with Jake Coen aboard.

Never far off the pace, the four-year-old victor was ridden to challenge over a furlong from home and soon led, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by half-a-length.

.Princess Sela (7/2fav) came with her effort in the final furlong but couldn't match the winner and had to settle for second under Shane Foley for Ger O'Leary.

.Affable (8/1) was another length-and-three-parts back in third with Nicole Weir aboard for Ken Condon.

"She is back from a break and was a lot more settled today," Murphy said.

"She threw away her race at the start at Leopardstown but Jake said she was a lot more settled today and was a different filly.

"We had the red hood on her and I couldn't believe how quiet she was. She is a little bit undependable but I was very confident when I saw that.

"She gets wound up in the preliminaries but maybe a straight track suits her as well as it is more straightforward.

"We'll run her on the turf again and see about Dundalk."

STEWARDS REPORTS

G.P. Halpin, rider of Tellthemi'mhere trained by P.O'Rourke, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount reared in the stalls and unseated him as the gates opened.

W.J. Lee, rider of Amanirenas trained by M.C. Grassick, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was carried right by a loose horse.

The Stewards informed P.O'Rourke, trainer that Tellthemi'mhere, would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes