Ice Age claims Curragh opener

The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Bold Lad' Sprint Handicap went for export for the fourth successive year as Ice Age ran out a convincing winner for Eve Johnson Houghton.

Charlie Bishop, having his first ride in Ireland, had the 15/2 shot to the fore throughout and he powered ahead inside the final furlong to record a length-and-a-quarter success.

Fellow raider Al Qahwa followed him home with Blairmayne fairing the best of the home team in third.

Ice Age was recording a hat-trick of victories having scored twice at Windsor last month.

“He's just kept on improving this year,” said Johnson Houghton.

“He's so quick into his stride that sometimes he was doing too much too early and then not quite getting home.

“Now he's learned that even though he'd quick into his stride he doesn't have to go flat out and he's improving all the time.

“He's won that off 96 and I don't quite know where were are going to go now. He's in the Ayr Gold Cup but I still don't think he'd going to get in with a penalty.”

Bishop added:- “He's improved massively his last three runs. He jumped out travelled really well and was pricking his ears halfway through the race.”