Newfire gets off the mark to give McMonagle a double

The Ray Cody trained Newfire opened her account at the sixth time of asking when staying on best inside the final furlong to win the Bar One Racing Handicap at Limerick.

Well backed when disappointing at Sligo on her reappearance, the daughter of New Bay didn't enjoy the clearest of passages when down the field at Gowran Park last time.

Held up in rear under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the three-year-old moved closer into mid division early in the straight. Pushed along to head leader Saffredi over a furlong out, the 10/1 chance kept on to win by one-and-a-half lengths from Apollo Prince

McMonagle was completing a double on the afternoon, having been successful earlier aboard Linger For Longer

Alexandra Egan (brother of David) was having her first ride under rules on the second, Apollo Prince.

Browne McMonagle (109/1 double) said: “The last day I jumped well and got a good position but lost it and may have forced her a little bit in the middle part to get it back and she didn’t finish off.

“I knew she was better than that and Ray has freshened her up and had her in top shape today. I decided to take our time and have her comfortable and finishing off the race. It worked out really good and she loved coming through the middle of them.

“They stopped in front of me but in fairness to her she stuck her head out and got to the line well. The bit of rain this morning also helped her.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.