SHORT heads separated the first three home in last evening's Curraghboy Nursery, won by Maskul from Go Thunder and Slightly Smooth. It was a dream result for Handicapper Ciaran Kennelly.
As Distinctly West wilted inside the distance, the three two year olds flashed past the post as one with the Kevin Prendergast trained winner, who looked beaten half a furlong out as Go Thunder drifted close to him, finishing fastest of all on the favoured stands side. He would have been an unlucky loser.
Prendergast completed an 87 to 1 double when Magic Combination won the French Park Handicap. The 6lb claim of winning rider Gerry Moylan was clearly useful. Skirteen, ridden by the stable jockey Willy Supple, finished second.
Twice successful at Perth, Tabu Lady is bound for another race over the West Scotland track at the end of the month following her win in the Castle Handicap Hurdle. Trained in Co Antrim by Billy Rock, Tabu Lady has an alternate engagement at the next Sligo meeting, but she will not run on fast ground.
"I was afraid the going would have been too firm for her today," said Rock, unaware that there was a lot of overnight rain in the area.
The Martin Brassil trained Miss Roberto, ridden by Kevin O'Brien, came home virtually on her own in the Elphin Three Year Old Maiden Hurdle. Clear before jumping the second last, the winner raced away to beat Spionan by 15 lengths. "She will run at Listowel and may first have a run on the flat. Like all the ladies, she'll dictate," smiled the trainer.
Very Little put his 30lb weight concession to good account when beating top weight Tryfirion by two and a half lengths in the Roscommon Handicap Chase. Very Little, the six length winner of a beginners chase at Kilbeggan on his previous appearance, is trained at Enfield, Co Meath, by Pat Lally. Lally saddled Miss Therese to win the Group Blandford Stakes in 1973 at 100 to 1. Swallows Nest broke down badly.
. There will a good British turnout in the Listed Prix de la Valle d'Auge over five furlongs for juveniles at Deauville today when John Gosden's Head Over Heels (Willie Ryan) puts in quick reappearance after winning on Saturday. The winner of the Listed St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury is joined in her French quest by Kevin McAuliffe's Double J (Cash Asmussen) and Chris Dwyer's Jennelle (Jo Hunnam).
. Paul Holley was banned for three days at Plumpton last night after running the gauntlet of angry racegoers for not pulling up Priesthill before he did in the three runner handicap chase.
The gelding began to get tailed off and was obviously reluctant to race with more than a circuit of the three miles and one and a half furlongs trip left.
