Silver takes Gold at Down Royal

Path Of Silver recorded her third success of the year as she ran out a comfortable winner of the Weatherbys Handicap.

Successful at Killarney in May, and Tipperary in July, the Dick Brabazon trained four-year-old disappointed on her last few starts.

Having opened on-course this evening at 10s, she eventually went off an 8/1 chance with Oisin Orr in the saddle for the Cafe Du Journal Syndicate.

Settled in mid-division on the outer, the daughter of Strategic Prince was ridden over two furlongs out, and she soon came through to lead with a furlong and a half left to race.

She went a few lengths clear inside the final furlong, and kept up the gallop in the closing stages to score by two and a quarter lengths. Harry Speed who was backed from 8s to 11/2 on-course, finished second under Ronan Whelan for Garvan Donnelly, while Accladora (16/1) was another three parts of a length back in third for Danny Sheehy and Tom McCourt.

The Johnny Levins trained Jan Steen was sent off the 4/1 favourite (from 5s on-course), and he finished seventh with Donagh O'Connor in the saddle.

Brabazon said afterwards: "She is having some campaign, she is just as game as hell. I put her in half thinking if we were thrown out we would be balloted for a more suitable race. When the ground came soft I said seven (furlongs) is far enough for her and Oisin (Orr) said she handled it so that is something new.

"When things go right she's good. She probably needs space, that's why we put the cheek-pieces on. After she won her two races she would have damned near won her next race in Killarney as she ran into a wall of horses.

"She's a half-sister to Silverkode so suddenly she has got a bit of value. At the beginning of the season we thought we had a low-grade mare related to nothing. I think Silverkode is rated 99 and runs in a big race tomorrow so suddenly she's very exciting.

"She's tough and if you have a tough horse you don't know where you can go.

"Oisin is riding just great, he rode it just beautifully. He just didn't get flustered, he waited and took his time and he got space - he got space in a 14-runner race and drawn wide when he didn't give away the ground. It was a typical ride of a fella just full of confidence."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Power Of Ten trained by R.P. McNamara, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.

The Stewards enquired into an incident about one furlong from the finish involving Latchet ridden by K.J. Manning, placed sixth, Favorite Story (GB), ridden by S. Foley, unplaced and Town Ranger ridden by C.P. Hoban, unplaced, where it appeared that Favorite Story (GB) came off a straight line and drifted when under pressure. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that the incident was accidental in nature and took no further action.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham