Meister scores on handicap debut

The Ice Meister (4/1) made it two wins from four starts as he took the 100 Years Racing At Gowran Park Nursery under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons.

The son of Dark Angel got off the mark at Down Royal in June but was disappointingly beaten into third on his next start at Killarney when sent off the odds-on favourite.

Making his handicap debut this evening and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time he was prominent throughout.

He improved to lead over two furlongs from home and was soon ridden, keeping on well from there to score by half a length.

Top weight Toscanelli was friendless with punters (9/2 to 7/1) and he finished second for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien while Red Haired Mary was a further three and a half lengths back in third under Chris Hayes for Paul Deegan at 7/1. Sauanna Belle went off the 5/2 favourite under Niall McCullagh for Johnny Murtagh but she could only manage a disappointing seventh while the well-backed Swordfight (13/2 overnight and from 4/1 to 11/4 on-course) was fifth.

Shane Lyons, assistant trainer to brother Ger, said afterwards: "He's a genuine horse and did it nicely. He would have preferred better ground.

"His next race will be the Tattersalls sales race at the Curragh. It's on Champions weekend and it will be nice to have a few runners.

"He'll be a bonny horse for next year. He wouldn't have liked that ground and there is a little bit of improvement in him on better ground."

STEWARDS REPORT

N.G. McCullagh, rider of Sauanna Belle, trained by J.P. Murtagh, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran free in the early stages.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference inside the final furlong involving Toscanelli, ridden by J.P. O'Brien, placed second and The Ice Meister, ridden by C.T. Keane, placed first. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the judges placings and took no further action.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson