Masilia looks one to note in staying events this year after opening her account in impressive fashion under John Murtagh in the two miles Clonmel Maiden.
Murtagh, who could be in line for the ride on Golan in the Vodafone Derby after Kieren Fallon's suspension at Ayr, bidded his time on the four-year-old daughter of Kahyasi. The Aga Khan's home-bred needed only to be pushed out to beat Direct Bearing by a length, and John Oxx's assistant Jimmy O'Neill commented afterwards: 'She was held up with lots of little problems including a splint. We will see how the handicapper rates her after this, but she's not short of speed and could go for a mile and a half handicap'.
Dariole will be 'kept busy over the summer both on the Flat and over hurdles' according to trainer Michael Halford after the Priolo gelding recorded a facile victory in the Knockmealdown Handicap.
The five-year-old, who 'handles fast ground well', quickly drew clear off the home turn, and Fran Berry could afford to ease him down in the closing stages to beat Kilbride King by six lengths.
Halford was unlucky not to complete a treble on the evening as both Rashay and Mandal Manor lost out in close finishes. Rashay just failing to peg back Planet Clare in the opening Cahir Handicap having been switched to find racing room inside the final furlong, while Mandal Manor also came just too late to deny the front-running Droumleigh Lad in the Glanbia Handicap Hurdle.
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