"Great performance" from Tenor in rated race

Owner/breeder Jim Monaghan and trainer Tim Doyle started the week with a Ballingarry point-to-point winner on Monday when Malpensa scored under Jamie Codd. June continued in the right manner for the County Tipperary pair when Spanish Tenor landed the Leopardstown Rated Race under Billy Lee.

Tim Doyle certainly has his string in good form seeing as Punches Pious also did the business for his Thurles yard at Gowran, on Monday as well.

Here the winner tracked the front-running Oh Grace in the seven furlong event. Leading a furlong out Spanish Tenor went on to account for his aforementioned rival by a length.

"I thought that was a great performance off 95. I thought it was a competitive race," said Doyle.

"I knew the horse was coming right and Billy said he gave him a great feel all the way and galloped right to the line.

"We'll consider the Britannia but more than likely we'll stay here and go for a Listed race or Group 3.

"He wants a little bit of an ease and it was ideal there for him today. It was probably a shade quick the last day in Cork for him.

"That was a handicap, you could say, today, and he did it fair and square. I think he'll come on more as he's only coming to himself.

"I'm delighted with that because he showed a lot of promise last year and after the first two runs this year we were a little disappointed. His homework was always very good and he's only coming."

(GC & EM)