Middleham trainer Mark Johnston enhanced his impressive strike-rate on Irish soil at Leopardstown this afternoon when Gaelic Storm took the featured Department Of Agriculture Centenary Handicap at Leopardstown today.
Gaelic Storm followed up a victory in a six furlong handicap at Newbury with another splendid performance, showing his appreciation for soft ground in the hands of a confident Johnny Murtagh.
The six-year-old and 4-1 second favourite Tiger Royal dominated the finish with the evens favourite holding the challenge by a length. The leading pair pulled seven lengths clear of the third Eveam.
Favourite backers were also on the mark in the opening IBEC Maiden as Galileo romped away with the event despite drifting from 2-5 to evens.
Bred in the purple, being a son of Sadler`s Wells out of the Arc winner Urban Sea, Galileo looked a star in the making as he went right away from toiling rivals to win by 10 lengths in the hands of Michael Kinane.
Professional punters had further cause for celebration in the Irish Meat Association EBF Race as Major Force translated his superiority on the ratings into his display on the track to win the mile affair by five lengths.
A winner of two Group Three contests last season, Major Force was only running for the third time this season and should score again before the current campaign ends for Curragh trainer Dermot Weld and champion jockey-elect Pat Smullen.
