Biggest talking point at Tipperary last night 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.
