Harnett Blind Sides rivals in Claiming Maiden

Paddy Harnett stole a march on his six rivals, when making all aboard Blindsided to run out an easy winner of the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Claiming Maiden at Tipperary.

The Donnacha O'Brien trained No Nay Never colt was smartly away from stall 3, with the first-time blinkers clearly making a huge difference.

Harnett got the fractions just right in the early stages of the race, before kicking on off the home bend and skipping clear of his field.

With an unassailable lead early in the straight, the young rider could afford the luxury of looking round before merely having to push the winner out hands and heels.

Donnacha O'Brien said; "he is a grand horse, has ability and the blinkers seem to bring out a more. When they got the easy lead with the blinkers, I would have been surprised if anything got to him at that grade.

"He had a very good run on his second run and I thought he was a decent horse but that maiden didn't work out to be much and than ran disappointing a few times.

"It is nice to have races like this where you get an opportunity to win and at the same time, are there to be claimed. I think there should be more claimers in this country and ranging in values."

There were no subsequent claims for any of the runners.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes