Dual apprentice champion Tadhg O'Shea added to his growing reputation when recording a double aboard Styling It and Mighty Mist at Navan.
Styling It was easy to back on her debut in the Lynn Lodge Stud EBF Median Auction Maiden, and appeared a forlorn hope when trailing most of her 12 rivals inside the final quarter mile. However the Key Of Luck filly finished with such a flourish that she had a length and a half to spare over Reality Check at the line.
Michael Halford's charge is owned by a group from Johnson's pub in Newbridge appropriately named the Mines A Pint Syndicate, and the Curragh handler said, 'She's not very big but as tough as nails, and should stay at least six furlongs.'
O'Shea recorded his 18th win of the season when Mighty Mist was prominent throughout to take the LMFM Radio Midsummer Family Evening Handicap. The five-year-old grey benefitted from a powerful ride by O'Shea to just hold on by a short-head from the staying on Ostjessy, and trainer Ger Lyons commented afterwards 'That was a cracking ride by Tadhg, and the horse was very brave.'
Sean Cleary was judged to have used his whip excessively on third-placed Environment, and was given a four days suspension.
Pepperwood was all the rage in the Ardboyne Maiden, and the 6/4 (from 2/1) favourite justified the confidence when quickening up nicely at the furlong pole for John Murtagh to beat Lemonstown Lad by three lengths. 'I fancied him at Tralee last time but he didn't seem to handle the tight track. He was more professional today, likes a little ease in the ground and may go up a furlong or two in future,' said John Oxx.
The Currabeg trainer may have three runners at Royal Ascot next week, with Icklingham and Cruzspiel both in the Queens Vase and Mkuzi in the Wolfeston Listed Rated Stakes. Murtagh was forced to give up his remaining two rides after feeling dehydrated.
Christopher Geoghegan (17), from Kildare, partnered his first winner when producing Russian Comrade between horses inside the final furlong to take the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
The LMFM Radio Race attracted just four runners but proved a competitive event, with Aqualina driven to the front over two furlongs out by Kevin Manning to record a length and a half verdict over fellow 7/4 joint favourite Plume Rouge.
Cache Creek, successful over an extended mile at Killarney last month, appreciated a step up to ten furlongs when following up in the Kitchen & Bedroom Components Ltd Handicap. The five-year-old mare traveled sweetly under Fran Berry, and found plenty when asked for an effort at the furlong pole to beat Askthejudge by a length and a half. 'Fran suggested that we step her up to this trip, and she did it nicely. She appreciates an ease in the ground, and I'm not sure if she would handle fast ground,' said trainer Pat Hughes.
The Michael Kinane and Declan Gillespie combination, who were just foiled earlier on with Ostjessy, again had to settle for the runner-up spot when Final Opinion was unable to withstand the late surge of Euro Pressure in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Alan Magee
