Beckett provided Seamus Heffernan with his first Group 1 success in the National Stakes on a Sunday afternoon at the Curragh where Aidan O`Brien came within a short-head of a ground breaking six-timer.
The Fairy King colt upset some better-fancied stable companions, notably odds-on favourite Darwin who finished lame. Beckett is still available at 25/1 for next year`s 2,000 Guineas, with the Ballydoyle pair of Hemingway and Minardi heading anti-post lists. Michael Kinane was seen to good effect when partnering O`Brien`s other four winners on the day, particularly aboard Chiang Mai in the Blandford Stakes. Leopard Spot was strongly fancied to provide O`Brien with a record sixth winner on the day in the concluding seven furlong maiden but just failed to peg back the Catherine Gannon-ridden Northern Rock.
British challengers dominated the finish of the Smurfit sponsored St Leger the previous day, with Arctic Owl supplying Newmarket handler James Fanshawe with his first success in Ireland. The six-year-old gelding responded gamely under David Harrison inside the final furlong to beat Yavana`s Pace (also runner-up last year) by a length and a half, the pair pulling six lengths clear of Mutafaweq. The `classic` winner cost just 10,000gns as a yearling, and connections are now considering a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Pat Smullen continues to set the pace at the head of the Flat jockeys championship, and the former dual champion apprentice added to his tally with a winner for his retained stable of Dermot Weld at three of the midweek fixtures. The title race is very much a three-way contest, with Smullen (66 wins) eight ahead of both John Murtagh and Kinane.
Danny Grant has lived in the shadow of teenage sensation Tom Queally this season. However with the racecourse rumour machine indicating a difference of opinion between the 15 year old and trainer Pat Flynn, Grant took advantage by teamed up with his Carrick-On-Suir boss for a 53/1 double at Roscommon on Monday aboard Ishkasullus and Pilgrim Star. Flynn has continually sung the praises of Grant over the past few seasons, and the Waterford rider gave Pilgrim Star a patient ride when coming from virtually last to first in the straight for a convincing success.
Queally struck back with his own double at Downpatrick on Friday afternnon when taking both apprentice races on the card with Sharavogue Cookie and Luna Fleur, trained by Charlie Swan and Noel Meade respectively. He followed up 24 hours later at the Curragh when partnering Anna Elise to take a #30,000 handicap, and commented on the situation with Flynn saying: 'We have a few differences to iron out.' The anticipated road mayhem, due to the disruptive action of truck drivers over increased fuel prices on Friday, had little impact on racegoers. The traffic hold-ups were mainly confined to Dublin and other main cities.
