Valac disappoints as Cradle gets off the mark Donnacha O'Brien recorded his first winner of the Flat Turf Season as he partnered Cradle Mountain to victory in the last at Naas, the Best Price Guarantee At thetote.com Median Auction Maiden. Trained by O'Brien's father Aidan the son of Mastercraftsman was well-beaten on his debut at Cork in October of last year before again finishing down the field at Dundalk in April. He kept on well to finish second to Castlelyons at Cork on Monday last and he was sent off the 5/1 second favourite this evening. Having raced in mid-division earlier on he was sent to the front after two furlongs and he was ridden over two furlongs out when joined by Valac. He regained the lead over a furlong from home and he kept on well under pressure from there, going on to score comfortably by two and three parts of a length. Valac, who was sent off the 4/7 favourite, finished a disappointing second under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld while Newberry New (10/1) was a further half a length back in third under Declan McDonogh for Jessica Harrington. Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "He's tough and kept at it well. He likes an ease in the ground." The winner, who holds entries in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Irish Derby, is a half-brother to Ruscello who won a Group 3 in Australia for Ed Walker. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
