Mekong River and Joseph O'Brien, right© Photo Healy Racing
Green Tag made every yard of the seven furlong juvenile maiden to serve up a 33/1 shock in the opener at Gowran Park, but he subsequently lost the race in the stewards room.
This is a race that Aidan O’Brien has won in six of the last eight years with the likes of Battle Of Marengo, Daddy Long Legs and Irish Derby winners Treasure Beach and Frozen Fire.
It was therefore no surprise that his Mekong River went off the red-hot 4/9 favourite on debut, especially when main rival Intensified was ruled out through stiffness.
Fergal Lynch bounced Green Tag out from the stalls into the lead and the gelding led Mekong River (who was unbalanced several times) as they raced inside the furlong pole. However, Green Tag veered sharply left causing Joseph O’Brien to stop riding on Mekong River.
The favourite finished well from there though and was a neck down on Green Tag at the line. There was a lengthy stewards enquiry after which the placings were reversed. Asknotwhat at 14/1 under Pat Smullen was bang in contention at the business end. He suffered slight interference in coming home third.
Michael O’Callaghan, trainer of Green Tag, commented: “I thought he’d run well at Galway, but he was all at sea and green as grass. I felt he would appreciate the better ground today.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
