Two from two for English at Cork

Damian English made it two from two at the Cork Easter Festival (successful on Saturday with his other runner Tribal Path) as his Bluesbreaker took the 1916-2016 Easter Rising Centenary Handicap.

A decent fifth on his debut at Dundalk last December, the four-year-old son of Fastnet Rock finished down the field on his next two starts.

Making his debut in handicap company today he was sent off at 16/1 in a first time tongue strap.

Prominent throughout he was ridden and led a furlong and a half from home, keeping on well inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a quarter under Rory Cleary. Penny Pepper (10/3) ran well to finish second under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast, while Sors (5/1) was a further length and three parts back in third under Declan McDonogh for Andrew Slattery. Club Wexford was sent off the 2/1 favourite but he could only manage a disappointing fifth for Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger.

Damian English said afterwards: "He's a big raw horse and I picked him up for only 800 Guineas last summer.

"He showed promise on his first run but 1m 2f was then too far and on his third run the surface at Dundalk had been getting faster during the season and he didn't leave himself down.

"I was quietly confident coming here and he is ground dependant. He's still very raw and babyish and would get away with good to yielding ground but nothing quicker."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes