O'Brien doubles up with Pondus Pondus grabbed Listed glory in Roscommon with a stout staying performance over the extended mile and three furlongs on heavy ground. The four-year-old gelding brought up a double on the card for trainer Joseph O'Brien who landed the preceding race with Isotope. The 6/4 favourite had plenty on his plate when ridden in fifth with a quarter of a mile to go. He was switched to the outer by Wayne Lordan approaching the final furlong and made good headway to close on Helvic Dream and Camphor. Camphor got to the front inside the final furlong but was soon strongly pressed by Pondus who took a narrow lead with 100 yards to race. He won going away by two and a quarter lengths from Camphor (4/1) who had no more to give in second. Helvic Dream was another length and three quarters adrift in third. Four non runners (Simsir, Heliac, Fresnel and Nobel Prize) reduced the field to seven runners. Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “It was nice to get his head in front. Wayne said he coped with the ground but wouldn’t say he was in love with it. “They didn’t go any sort of gallop, and Wayne thinks in a better race with a stronger gallop he’ll be a better horse. At two (furlongs) out you wouldn’t have given him a lot of a chance but he stays well and toughed it out. “At least we know he’s tough and he’s coped with every sort of ground. On today you would say he could get further, and he might be an Australia horse for Mr Williams. We’ll see what Joseph says.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
