Declan McDonogh took the riding honours at Tipperary when partnering a double on the Lady O'Reilly-owned pair Jakarta Jade and Open Handed.
The Cheshire Oaks is on the agenda for Jakarta Jade after making it two wins from as many outings this term in the EBF Fillies Race. 'I brought her here to see if she gets the trip, and she'll now take her chance at Chester,' said Kevin Prendergast following a hard-earned victory.
Ebatana was the well-supported odds-on favourite in this mile and a half event, and Fran Berry elected to try and make all. However she was unable to find any extra when headed by Jakarta Jade a furlong out, and McDonogh's mount was driven right out to hold off Crimphill by half a length with Final Opinion staying on well the same distance back in third.
McDonogh gave Open Handed a strong ride in the concluding 7f handicap, leading close home on the Eddie Lynam-trained 14/1 chance to touch off Lucky Largo.
There was drama on the way to the start of the two-year-old maiden when Michael Kinane parted company with Devil Moon after the 4/7 favourite was spooked by telephone wires running across the racetrack. The champion was certainly shaken by the incident but soon reunited with the Aidan O'Brien-trained youngster, who finished strongly to peg back De Tiger and Chained Emotion in a three-way photo.
'He was very green first time at Cork, and Mick said that he saw the telephone wires that run across the track and ducked under them. He would appreciate better ground,' said O'Brien.
Flamelet surprised trainer John Oxx when making a winning debut in the Junction Race, just holding off the renewed challenge of Plume Rouge by a head. 'She is a leggy, light filly and we have not asked her to do that much at home. She ran around a bit in the last 100 yards but did everything right up to that. We will see what sort of handicap mark she will get, and will try to get her some black type,' said Oxx.
There was an even bigger shock in the fillies maiden where Sissy Slew, 25/1 but paid 70.20 for a win on the Tote, made a successful debut under Pat Shanahan. Dermot Weld's charge struck the front at the furlong pole, and just prevailed by a fast diminishing short-head from Bernhardt.
Curragh trainer Jim Gorman sent out his third winner of the new campaign when Fair Replacement took the sprint handicap under Tadhg O'Shea. The five-year-old gelding led over a furlong out and held on by a neck from Musical World. 'He likes an ease in the ground, and seems to be quite versatile distance wise,' said Gorman.
Alan Magee
