Collen springs surprise on debut

Newcomer Collen Beag sprang a 25/1 surprise in the bumper at Limerick this evening, the Greenmount Summer Fun INH Flat Race, scoring under Pa King for David O’Brien.

The four-year-old daughter of Mountain High was held up towards rear for much of the contest before improving on the inner from over two furlongs out.

She hit the front a furlong and a half from home and despite being strongly pressed inside the final furlong she kept on well to score by a neck.

That’s Nice, who was 5/1 this morning and was backed from 2/1 to 7/4 on-course, couldn’t match the winner close home and he had to settle for second under Johnny Barry for Michael Hourigan. Xpectations under Patrick Mullins for Mags Mullins, was sent off the 11/8 favourite and she was a further length back in third after having every chance inside the final furlong.

David O’Brien, who was recording his first winner of the year, said afterwards: "She has been working well and always showed plenty up Crowley's gallop but I got no grass work into her. We didn’t even know what ground she wanted coming here.

"Tony Slattery her owner and breeder has been with us since my fathers time and it is a lot of years since he had a winner. He had a lot of the ground work done with her and now that she is a winner we might end up in Galway.

"Pa she will do nothing only improve."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards interviewed Mr J.C. Barry, rider of Thats Nice placed second, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion Mr J.C. Barry was in breach of Regulation 10 3 (f) in that he had used his whip with excessive frequency and having taken his record into account, they suspended him for 3 racedays and ordered that he attend RACE for 1 days tuition on the correct use of the whip.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes