Curragh Review and Results: Murray strikes with juvenile

A lively betting market for the Castle Star At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden saw Slaney River sent off 13/8 favourite and a notable move for Army Leave who was backed down from 11/1 into 4/1.

Power Blue was fairly solid in the ring and even more so in the race as he travelled powerfully on the pace and picked up well for Egan to win by three and three quarter lengths.

Slaney River picked up for pressure to chase him home while Army Leave, who raced away from the principals on the inside wing, was another three and a half lengths back in third.

Murray saddled Arizona Blaze [Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed] to lift this prize 12 months ago having also collected the race with Bucanero Fuerte [won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes] the previous season and looks to have another useful prospect in his yard in this son of Space Blues.

Speaking to Racing TV, Egan said: "Bit of the usual thing with Adrian and his team winning this race!

"Terrific job, well prepared and he was the ultimate professional. The horse travelled with such ease, showed a little bit of greenness but really quickened up in the last 100 yards and galloped out all the way to the boards afterwards so he'll be getting a little bit further than five furlongs that's for sure."

When asked how Power Blue compared to Murray's previous winners, he replied: ""He won by a wider margin than Arizona Blaze who is a Breeders' Cup placed horse.

"Bucanero Fuerte won, probably, in similar fashion but he's a nice horse and there is sure to be plenty of improvement which is good."

Back Down Under (8/1) raced without cover on the inside wing in the Nua Healthcare Handicap but always looked to be moving well within herself under Leigh Roche.

They moved easily to the front before quickening clear of her pursuers and appeared to have the race in safe keeping until Dark Viper came from off the pace to close on the leader.

The line was always coming too soon for the challenger though and Back Down Under had half a length in hand at the line.

Tai Tam Bay was just over a length back in third and a nose ahead of Catherine Chroi.

Back Down Under was Padraig Roche's only runner on the card and the trainer said: "I'd like to thank JP and Noreen [McManus] for leasing her to us and a bunch of lads in town and we've had her for a year now and she is up to winning again, it's great.

"She's not the biggest but she filled out and looked a lot stronger this year. Trip-wise we didn't really know but the way she travelled there six seems fine so we're delighted. We'll keep running around here and hopefully she can pick up another one.

"I've a few two-year-olds, a bit more than usual, and a few versatile ones so we'll see how we go."

Reflecting on the performance of Win Some Lose Some in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival last week, Roche said: "He was a bit disappointing to be honest and nothing seemed to come to light but he's home now and he's fine."

Laugh A Minute, advised by Tony Keenan at 6/1, landed a late plunge to win the Nua Healthcare Handicap at 18/5 favourite.

The field crossed towards the stands' side rail early in the six furlong contest with Laugh A Minute caught on the outside of the field from his low draw.

Stag Night and Big Gossey were making the best of their way home towards the rail with Stag Night the first to give way. Laugh A Minute only mastered Big Gossey close home but was almost caught by Love Billy Boy who was momentarily held up in his run before getting into the clear.

Love Billy Boy charged home but still had a neck to find where it mattered.

Big Gossey was a half length back in third with Apache Outlaw fourth.

It was a first winner at the Curragh for trainer Stephen Thorne who said: "He's an absolute pleasure this horse, he's been five, six years with me and is just a marvellous horse. We knew there was plenty of life left in him.

"Obviously dropped to a career low mark for some time and we had him ready for today. We always use that Dundalk race as a nice prep run to blow out the cobwebs and it's better than three bits of work really. We're delighted.

"I thought that they moved this from the previous renewals from five to six gave us a little bit more chance because he's not as speedy as he used to be but he handles the ground really well and hopefully we're in for a good spring with him.

"Every year he always lands one for me. He likes to be nice and fresh so he'll have a nice week off and we'll see what's coming up in the next three to four weeks. He will be retired whenever the time is right and this will probably be his last campaign."

Bint Queen Kindly (2/1 favourite) and Copacabana Sands put four and a half lengths between themselves and the field in the Alkumait At Capital Stud Fillies & Mares Maiden.

The Dermot Weld trained winner had to be extricated from against the inside rail by Chris Hayes but once in the clear, Bint Queen Kindly picked up well to collar the leader and win by a length and a quarter.

Bint Queen Kindly, who was making her racecourse debut, is out of the smart juvenile Queen Kindly and holds an entry in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

It was a quickfire double for Hayes who said: "We liked her last year and we were kind of anxious to run her at the backend but the boss rightly decided to give her a bit of time to come into herself; hopefully, we'll reap the rewards.

"She's been working nicely and hopefully she will improve."

When asked if Bint Queen Kindly could live up to her Classic entry, Hayes replied: "Anything is possible, she wasn't overcooked for today. We got plenty ground work into her and she had a good baseline but I'd be hopeful she would improve from it."

Reflecting on the victory of Laugh A Minute, he added: "I thought I had close to two good thing rides and he was one and she was the other.

"I think it was nearly 50 rides without a winner so it was well overdue."

An interesting renewal of the Bermingham Cameras (C & G) Maiden saw Dupont Law (18/1) overhaul First Wave inside the final furlong, going on to win by two lengths.

Mister Adam was back in third with smart bumper A Dream To Share taking the eye with late headway into fourth.

The performance delighted winning trainer Ciaran Murphy who said: "That was amazing, just to have a Curragh at the winner now.

"It's a bit emotional because when I started training that was one of my goals to have a winner here and I'm just thrilled with that.

"We kept him in training [after his debut at Galway in August] but we didn't do a whole lot, the ground got quick then so we just let him off. We took him in good and early and said we'd train him for here and the ground was on the right side for us, he likes that little bit of dig in the ground.

"Dylan [Browne McMonagle, jockey] got off him and said 'he's a proper one and he's going to improve plenty'.

"He's a proper stayer on the Flat and he could go the other route as well if we wanted to."

Goldrush Kid lived up to his name in landing a gamble - 12/1 into 6/1 - in the Download The Tote App Handicap.

Paddy Magee's runner went on over a furlong from home but had to be strong to keep the late lunge of Narlita at bay; the winning margin was only a head.

The closing Tote.ie Irish European Breeders Fund Maiden also produced a tight finish but one that was less favourable to punters with 20/1 chance Glen To Glen beating 6/4 favourite Mathan by a neck.

The winner was trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Gabriella Hill.

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