Thunder Roll off the mark in Galway Listed contest Four-race maiden Thunder Roll landed the Ardilaun Hotel Irish EBF Oyster Stakes under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Trained for the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate by Joseph O'Brien, the Night Of Thunder filly had finished third in the Group 3 Munster Oaks in June and was supported from 5/1 into 7/2 before the off. Having tracked the leaders, she was pushed along to lead in the dip with over two furlongs to race and kept all pursuers at bay up the hill to score by three-parts of a length from Enfranchise with 5/4 favourite Echoes In Rain, who stayed on well in the straight, another head away in third. "She is a very straightforward filly and was up to 1m4f today," said Browne McMonagle "I let her jump forward from the gates and she stayed well although it was a bit messy for the first half and I got the worst of the barging around the first bend. "She has been a model of consistency and never runs a bad race. It is onwards and upwards now and she looks like she could be better next year." Fifth past-the-post Final Gesture was demoted a place after getting involved in a barging match with sixth-placed Amusement in the straight and jockey Bill Lee, who rode the former, will have been shocked to pick up a nine-day suspension for 'riding improperly' which seems harsh in the extreme. Quotes from Tom Weekes
