Unaccompanied shines as Abbey flops

Triumph Hurdle runner-up Unaccompanied showed that she has plenty of class on the level also when claiming the Listed Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.

The race was billed as the return to action for St Nicholas Abbey but the 2009 Racing Post Trophy winner failed to shine.

Dermot Weld 's filly stole the limelight with a convincing success in the mile-and-a-quarter contest.

Pat Smullen sent his mount to the front at the two furlong pole and she galloped on strongly to post a two-and-a-half length success over 33/1 shot Cilium

Seamus Heffernan wasn't happy on St Nicholas Abbey (4/11f) from some way out and he failed to pick up in the straight, finishing four-lengths back in third.

"She's a lovely big genuine mare," said Weld of the Moyglare owned winner.

"She'll go to Punchestown next providing the ground is not firm. She ran a super race at Cheltenham and it's great to win a stakes race with her.

"She'll get the summer off after Punchestown and then come back as a dual purpose mare. We'll be looking at races over 1m2f and 1m4f on the Flat.

"She's got a very big future over jumps."

Weld also issued a warning to punters thinking of backing Smullen at 4/6 for the jockey's title.

"It's worth noting that I don't have as many horses this season. I have less three-year-olds and my two-year-olds are fairly backward."

Aidan O'Brien was far from disheartened with the performance of St Nicholas Abbey:-

"They didn't go very fast and he was a little bit fresh. They quickened at halfway and he got a little bit tired. The ground was very heavy - first time back.

"We've got him started again and I suppose it's a good while since he ran. He just got a little bit tired in Seamies hands.

"It's very early in the season and it's very hard to have a horse at peak fitness for that ground if you think about going on for the rest of the season.

"He's started now and we'll look forward to his next run."