Second double in two days for in-form Condon

Affable (7/1) completed a double for Ken Condon with a comfortable success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

It was a second brace in two days for the winning trainer after a good evening’s work at Tipperary yesterday, and he would have had few anxious moments as Joey Sheridan’s mount travelled really well throughout.

Held up towards the rear early on, the daughter of New Approach made smooth headway to lead over a furlong out and was ridden clear to beat Maud Gonne Spirit (17/2) by two and a quarter lengths, with the 11/4 favourite Petticoat Rule a short head further back in third.

This was a third win in her last five starts for Affable, who won over ten furlongs on soft ground at Newmarket last year before being bought out of Ralph Beckett’s yard for 6,000 guineas at the December Sales.

“Weren't we lucky we didn't lose her in claimers?!” said Condon.

“She had shaped well in a claimer at Limerick and seven (furlongs) is perfect for her.

"We've asked her some questions, the last day she ran over five and she still turned up. We gave Joey a chance to rider her with plenty of confidence and she responded to that and seems to thrive on it.

"The dam is a half-sister to Libertarian (runner-up in the Derby) and she was a 150,000gns yearling so that is enabling her to climb back up the ladder a bit. When you have that bit of pedigree it stands to you, even in her behaviour and she seems to be in a good place.

"She is ground-versatile, we'll keep going and find something similar and, as always with fillies, we'll try for black-type in the autumn."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes