MR LIGHTFOOT justified odds-on favouritism with a smooth hands and heels success for Pat Shanahan, after sweeping to the front two furlongs from home in last evening's Golden Race at Tipperary.
Winning trainer, Con Collins, said: "He did it well but idled a bit when he hit the front. He's a big baby who will make a nice staying type in time and hopefully he will win a listed race later in the season.
The Curragh trainer expressed his concern with regards to the cough epidemic sweeping through the area: "I hope we can avoid it. Thankfully we are free so far but John Oxx, Kevin Prendergast and Dermot Weld have all been hit."
Racecourse rumour concerning the Oxx team being under a cloud resulted in Karatisa going off at a generous 3 to 1 after touching 4 to 1 in places. But her supporters experienced few anxious moments after Pat Smullen went straight to the front after the stalls opened, before staying on close home to land the spoils with the minimum of fuss.
Afterwards, Jim Slim' O'Neill confirmed that the Oxx team have been effected by the cough: "We'll be very selective over the next to days or so, running only the odd one here and there. Most of our string have been hit but it shouldn't be around for too long."
With John Murtagh suspended, Willie Mullins sought out to times champion Mick Kinane to ride his recent Killarney scorer Quite Chuffed and the partnership duly obliged with a power-packed pillar-to-post success.
"That's a nice follow-up," said Mullins who added, "I rang Mick yesterday to see if he was available and to minutes later he called me back to say he was free to ride. His availability was the difference between running here or not. A three-year-old handicap at Galway is the target
Kevin Manning brought his seasonal tally to 20 when he made virtually all on Bolger's newcomer, Silly Imp, to take the opening Elm Maiden over the minimum trip. Naas handler, Paddy Osborne, received a welcome change of tuck in the Cashel Handicap Hurdle when Dook's Delight stayed on from the last flight, under Terry Mitchell, to pip Welsh Grit close home.
. Michael Hills escaped with a four-day ban after being found guilty of an irresponsible riding offence that almost put his Derby ride in jeopardy at Goodwood
His hopes of following up last year's Epsom triumph on Shaamit were almost dashed when Good Reputation was disqualified. The filly was demoted from first to third for causing interference to Rocky Dance in the A and J Bull Maiden Stakes.
Hills' suspension, the minimum sentence the stewards could impose, covers May 31st and June 2nd-4th inclusive.
