Backbench veers to the fore

The playing field between horses of varying abilities is considerably levelled when conditions get as testing as they obviously are at Leopardstown. Favourite for the Listed Nijinsky Stakes, Tower Rock (later reported to be lame & to have lost a shoe) couldn't cope with things whilst winner Backbench Blues obviously could, though not before giving his supporters and connections a considerable degree of worry in the closing stages. Fri 08th Jun

Light Heavy shows battling spirit

Light Heavy showed his battling qualities under Kevin Manning when edging out Ballydoyle’s second-string Tower Rock by a neck in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown. Sun 13th May

Well-backed Harrison's makes it 3 for Ballydoyle

Harrison's Cave put up a lovely performance for a three-year-old in the concluding www.thetote/mobile Handicap at Navan under Joseph O'Brien. The son of Galileo was a third winner on the day for Ballydoyle, following on from Frontier (Colm O'Donoghue) and Tower Rock (Seamie Heffernan). Wed 19th Oct

'Massive' Tower doubles Ballydoyle tally

Tower Rock showed the benefit of a run here a fortnight back to improve past two of his rivals that re-opposed in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden at Navan. Seamie Heffernan was bringing up a double for Ballydoyle on the Dylan Thomas colt as they earlier had a winner with Frontier (Colm O'Donoghue). Wed 19th Oct