Biggest talking point at Tipperary tonight centred around the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden which provided a minor shock when Dermot Weld's newcomer Elusive Double belied a total lack of market support (4/1 - 10/1) to defeat well backed 30/100 favourite and Ballydoyle newcomer Scandinavia.
The odds on favourite looked to have the race in safe keeping when going to the front half a mile out before Elusive Double under Pat Smullen gradually made up the ground before sprinting past the O'Brien runner 200 yards from home for a three parts of a length success.
A well backed odds-on favourite that did win was Jim Bolger's Lamberto in the Railway Handicap. The winner, who carried a mandatory five pound penalty for his runaway success at Gowran on Sunday but was due to receive an additional 13lbs in future handicaps, was backed from 1/2 into 4/11 and eventually ran out the comfortable four length winner.
Bolger later stated 'we'll go for more of the same now and he should stay twelve furlongs.'
Lamberto's jockey Kevin Manning later completed a double when King Of Peace rewarded a few punters when winning the Audi/Pierse Motors Tipperary Handicap. The gelded son of Persian Bold was backed from 14/1 into 10/1, eventually winning by two and a half lengths from Naahil.
Winning trainer Harry Rogers later reported 'he has been a great servant and it was Kevin's first time riding him there. We'll try to find another similar race soon.'
Val O'Brien's Brown Sedge caused a big surprise when winning the 2m4f handicap chase. The 20/1 winner has pulled up on his last two starts but O'Brien later reported 'he had some decent form on firm ground last year and needs fast ground. We'll look for a similar race now.'
Winning jockey Denis O'Regan was recording his fourth win as a professional and looks to have a bright future.
Top national hunt trainer Edward O'Grady has few sprint winners these days but saddled Millers Weir to win the five-furlong handicap. O'Grady intends going for a similar race with the son of Lake Coniston but added that there are only a few such races for his 12/1 winner.
Trainer John Kiely and jockey Derek O'Connor provided a pointer for the rest of the season when newcomer Fairy Dawn became the latest Kiely graduate to win on her debut under a strong O'Connor ride.
Thomas Weekes.
