Michael Grassick is on course to beat his seasonal best tally of 23 after recording his 14th winner of the Flat campaign when Full Cream made all under Niall McCullagh in the five furlongs maiden.
The daughter of Hennessy kept on gamely inside the final furlong to beat Graceunderpressure by three quarters of a length, and the Curragh trainer said, 'She won despite some cut in the ground, and we'll try to get her some black type when it eventually dries out.'
Pat Martin is another trainer in good form, and he moved onto the seven winner mark for the season when Rathgowney Lad swooped late in the seven furlongs handicap. Sauterelle forced the pace, and looked set to score when poaching a few lengths lead in the straight. However Rathgowney Lad stayed on strongly for Sean Cleary to lead virtually on the line.
'Sean rides really well, and has a great pair of hands. This can be a difficult horse, and pulled too hard on his previous two runs,' said Martin.
Sadann justified favouritism when always prominent in the juvenile auction maiden. Seamus Heffernan sent the 6/4 chance to the front well over a furlong out, and held on by a neck from newcomer Alabama Blues. 'I have 12 two-year-olds, and he's definitely the best of them. He's a very laid back, big horse and I won't be hard on him this year,' said trainer Irene Oakes, who plans to go for a nursery and then put him away until next year.
Punters also got it right in the beginners chase where Le-Monde came home 25 lengths clear under Mark Grant, although David Wachman's charge had his task greatly eased when Pillar Rock fell three out.
The novice hurdle promised to be a match between Rockstown Boy and Kadiskar, and so it proved with jumping the crucial factor as the latter prevailed with a bit in hand. Rockstown Boy blundered badly five out and again at the second last, leaving Kadiskar to come home a comfortable three lengths clear under amateur champion Alan Crowe.
'He jumped well, and will probably go next for a winners-of-two. If it doesn't get too hard, he will keep going over the summer,' said J P McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.
Yukon was produced with a well-timed challenge by Kieran Kelly in the two miles handicap hurdle, jumping past Silent Native at the final flight to record a three lengths win.
Pat Shanahan partnered his fifth winner in the space of a week when Top Strategy made a successful debut in the ten furlong maiden. The blinkered newcomer collared the pace-setting Beucaire at the furlong pole, and stretched out well in the closing stages to score by three lengths.
Alan Magee
