Andrew Oliver can be forgiven if his attention wasn't fully focused on Leopardstown, but he will have been buoyed by the result of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, as his Shamora took the spoils.
Oliver is set to saddle favourite Sendmylovetorose in the Cherry Hinton at Newmarket on Friday, but he got in the winning vein early as Shamora (13-8) was always poised to strike under Chris Hayes.
Pulling clear on the home turn, she had enough up her sleeve to hold Mona Brown three-quarters of a length at bay, with Oliver's other runner, Meldina in third.
Fran Berry was in fine form as he followed up a double at Dundalk with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on Colliding Worlds < Wonderful broke smartly and attempted to make all, but Berry swept down the middle of the track on the 2-1 favourite, and he had plenty left up his sleeve to fend off the strong-finishing All That Rules by four lengths.
Johnny Murtagh also made a successful trip from Dundalk, adding to his victory on the all-weather with an easy win on John Oxx's Shelford in the "JAPE" Maiden.
The 15-8 favourite was not hard pressed once asserting over a furlong out, coming home three and a quarter lengths clear of Dougal Philps
King Of Dudes opened his account on his first start in handicap company when pulling out all the stops in the jogforjockeys.ie Handicap.
Always to the fore under Ben Curtis, the 13-2 chance found plenty for pressure to keep favourite Sure Reef a length and a half at bay.< Happy Anniversary (4-1) made light work of a 5lb penalty for her recent Bellewstown success when coming home three and a half lengths clear of Toufan Express under Ross Coakley in the Leopardstown Apprentice Handicap.
