Review roscommon 21st May

< Massiyn landed some hefty bets when opening his account for Mick Halford in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden at Roscommon.

Sixth behind this weekend's Irish 2,000 Guineas contender Takar on his sole start as a juvenile last term, the son of Zamindar was strongly supported into 3-1 having opened up around the 8-1 mark earlier in the day.

Johnny Murtagh held onto his mount for as long as possible, until unleashing him at the furlong pole where he swept past long-time leader Encrypted Message to record an eased-down length-and-a-quarter success.

Halford doubled up for the evening when saddling the tenacious Paddy The Celeb to victory in the Connolly's Red Mills Horse Care Cubes Handicap.

After tracking Articilitis throughout the early part of the race, Shane Foley asked his mount to go and settle the issue a couple of furlongs from home.< Statesmanship looked a major threat when drawing alongsides but the 4-1 favourite found more as they entered the last 150 yards and held on by three parts of a length.

Murtagh was also in double-winning form, partnering the John Oxx-trained Shamooda (6-1) to victory in the Roscommon Handicap.

The race appeared to revolve around Saturday's facile Wexford scorer Time Of My Life who was sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2-9, but it appeared to come a little too soon for him as he mustered only the one pace in the straight after travelling nicely.

Shamooda ultimately came through late to beat Lonrach by two lengths.< Emotional Dream (6-4 favourite) stayed on stoutly to record a deserved opening success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Making it eighth time lucky under Declan McDonogh, the Kevin Prendergast-trained Shirocco filly was settled in second behind the pace-setting Sparkling View and after taking it up approaching the furlong marker, she knuckled down well to beat Whisper Gently by four-and-a-quarter lengths.