Stamullen trainer Peter Casey is set to saddle his first Classic runner Fearn Royal in the Darley Stud-sponsored Irish Oaks at the Curragh this Sunday afternoon.
Speaking at Naas last evening after he saddled full sisters Tubbertown Rose and Elbeo's Dream to finish first and third respectively in the Woodlands Handicap, the winner coming home a length clear of After Shock in the hands of Pat Shanahan, Casey revealed,' There is prizemoney for the first ten home on Sunday and she's in flying form at home so I think at this stage she'll take her chance.'
Elsewhere on a card that attracted a decent crowd to the Kildare track, Jack Owen Jack booked his ticket for a winners-of-two novice at the big Galway Festival later this month. The 4/9 chance made most of the running to record a cheeky eased down success in the hands of Charlie Swan.
After J.P.McManus' gelding notched up his second win on the bounce, trainer Christy Roche said, 'He's after getting better and he'll head for a two-and-a-half mile novice under a 7 lbs penalty now. If the ground came up firm though he won't run,' said the dual purpose Curragh handler.
Michael Halford's Daganya drew right away inside the final furlong to record a bloodless six length success in the 6f Auction Maiden while half-an-hour later second reserve Suntory made an eye catching winning debut for Dunshaughlin-based trainer Eddie Lynam in the Johnston Maiden.
'She's a good filly and I'm delighted for her owner Gerald Jennings who has been very loyal to me. I hope our horses are over the bug. This time last year we had about 12 winners while that's only our fifth this season so we have a lot of catching up to do,' said Lynam.
Former champion Ruby Walsh kept Aleemdar up to his task after jumping the final flight to win the 2nd division of the Fitzsimons Property Finance Novice Hurdle. Michael O'Brien, who trains the five-year-old for multi-millionaire property developer Sean Mulryan, said, 'I entered him for the Galway Hurdle and if he happened to get in at 9-7 I'd run him and claim five off. My horses weren't right but they seem to be alright now,'
