Two winners in two days for Paddy Harnett

Young apprentice Paddy Harnett made it two winners in successive days when Massa Lubrense (20/1) scored by two and a half lengths in the Curragh Rose Of Tralee Handicap.

The Abbeyfeale native had landed the first success of his career on the similarly-priced Rule The Sea the previous evening at Tipperary, and here he bided his time before launching his challenge on the stands’ side passing the furlong marker.

His mount, winning on Turf for the first time after two victories at Dundalk, found plenty to defeat Cyrus Dallin (7/1) by two and a quarter lengths. The front-running Jered Maddox (33/1) came in third with Munaajaat (33/1) in fourth, just ahead of the 7/4 favourite Blacklooks

“I think he deserves it. He's been running well, knocking on the door, and has come up against a few decent horses,” said winning trainer John Geoghegan.

“He was a head off Ado McGuinness' horse, Current Option in Cork and he's finished second in the Cambridgeshire tonight.

“We were hopeful of a big run and he won well in the end.

“Paddy rides very well. He ran me about six months ago looking for a ride but I didn't have one at the time and I said when it came available he was the man to get. Two winners in two days so he can't complain.

“I think this horse is okay, he should come on from that and hopefully win another one or two for us.

“I'll try and find a mile race for him, seven is probably even a little bit on the short side for him.

“There is one in Listowel, but it might go too soft for him there. He'll go on anything bar the extremes. We went down to Listowel last year and he couldn't handle it.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson