O'Brien brothers strike again with Amthaal The Irish Derby winning team of Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien were again on the mark when landing the five-furlong Irish Mirror Maiden with Amthaal at Bellewstown. The 5/4 favourite Early Call and Social Butterfly set a blistering pace up front which had the nine-runner field well strung out before halfway. However Amthaal was able to track the pace-setters and the 11/4 chance was produced towards the far rail by Donnacha O’Brien to lead just inside the final furlong. The daughter of Exceed And Excel kept on well to hold View The Bay by three quarters of a length, with Run The Day staying on late to take third. Donnacha O’Brien said, “She has plenty of pace. They went hard so I got a grand tow into the race, and she quickened up nicely when I asked her. “I think we were getting the trip wrong with her for the first few runs, and the drop back to five really suited her. She’s fine on that ground.”
