Impressive Shuttle Diplomacy 'is the real deal'

Shuttle Diplomacy impressively dismissed his nine rivals in the feature at Limerick this afternoon, the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

A winner on debut at Naas in January, the Tom Cooper-trained French bred was well-fancied to follow-up in this Listed contest and was sent to post the 13/8 favourite.

Sent straight to the front by Patrick Mullins, the Ciaran Mooney-owned bay was joined from the five-furlong pole but regained an outright advantage entering the straight.

Pressed on either side inside the final two furlongs, he soon scooted clear of the his rivals with the minimum of fuss and had seven-and-a-half lengths to spare at the line.

The Tony Martin-trained Putinapoundinthejar (9/1) filled the runner-up spot under Derek O'Connor, while Saint Le Fort (8/1) was another two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.

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"Bryan rode him work up the Old Vic on Tuesday and he was awesome," Cooper revealed.

"Bryan knows the Vic inside out and the lad in behind knows it better, and to quicken twice you'd do very well to get up to the hill. He could quicken a third time though.

"He is a very good horse, has no worries about ground and was much more professional today. He was very green in Naas but was sharper and knew his job today. He is the real deal.

"Sean Tierney bought him cheaply out of France as an unbroken two-year-old. He wouldn't have the best conformation but he can gallop.

"He will go to Punchestown now for the Champion Bumper and this horse will win on the flat - he has so many gears."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes