Thomas another for red-hot O'Brien

Joseph O'Brien recorded his eighth winner in the last five days, as Thomas O'Malley got off the mark in the Win Big With Tote Maiden.

Without a win in twelve starts, the son of Henrythenavigator was last seen finishing eighth of nineteen in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh last month.

Having opened at 5/2 on-course this evening, the bay gelding proved easy to back, going off a 7/2 chance under Donnacha O'Brien.

Settled in fifth, he took closer order from three furlongs out, and was ridden to challenge on the outer in third with just over a furlong left to race.

He got to the front inside the final 150 yards, keeping on well from there to score by a length and three parts.

Newcomer My Amazing One (20/1) ran well to finish second under Wayne Lordan for Thomond O'Mara, while Winston Wolfe (9/4) was a short head back in third for Leigh Roche and Darren Bunyan. Alahida was sent off the 2/1 favourite (from 3s), and she was a disappointing fifth under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.

The winning rider said afterwards: "When you handle the track around here it's half the battle, and he went around it really well.

"There was half a gap between Leigh and Pat coming around the bend, I didn't really want to kick into it so I just had to wait and go around them. Once I did go around he quickened up nicely.

"Around a track like Ballinrobe is a disadvantage to a lot of horses, but it's an advantage to him.

"His owners (the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate) love racing. The have four or five horses with Joseph so hopefully they'll get some more success."

STEWARDS REPORTS

P.J. Smullen, rider of Alahida trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost its action inside the final furlong.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Alahida, trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy