Review gowran park 12th Aug

< Chinese White returned to winning ways in terrific style as she took top honours in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park.

Fourth in the Irish Oaks last season, Dermot Weld's filly was having only the third run of her four-year-old campaign and had not been seen since a fair effort behind Beauty O' Gwaun in May.

Pat Smullen always looked to have Seamie Heffernan on Roman Empress covered as they kicked on a furlong a half out, and there was lots to like as she stretched clear in the closing stages.

Weld said of the 15-8 favourite: "She did it well, she has been very consistent. Our only concern was that she may need the run.

"Hopefully we will enjoy a very good autumn with her. The Prix de l'Opera on Arc weekend is a possibility."

Paul Flynn's Drunken Sailor (5-1) was the epitome of guts as he defied top-weight in the McEnery Cup Handicap, holding the late charge of Mutadarek to land back-to-back wins after success at the Galway Festival.

Joanna Morgan was full of praise for Johnny Murtagh after he partnered recent Leopardstown third Funatfuntasia (5-1 favourite) to a length-and-a-half triumph in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 to 6 Handicap.

Morgan said: "Johnny gave him a peach as he's not a simple horse to ride. He's keen and when he gets to the front he thinks he has enough done - he gave him a lovely ride.

"He has to have fast ground, he loves the all-weather. That was as slow as he probably wants it out there today."

Frank Ennis enjoyed a flying start to the night, with Sebastian Flyte (9-1) and Willie Supple getting up in the last stride to deny Mister Tee a pillar-to-post victory in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.

Ennis said: "We've always thought a lot of this lad. He came back very sick after his first run at the Curragh with mucus on his lungs.

"He probably go for a sales race at Redcar in a few weeks' time."

And the trainer doubled up 30 minutes later as the Danny Mullins-ridden Todd's Forge (13-2) asserted late on to tak