Review limerick 13th Apr

< Bethrah lived up to the promise of her only start as a juvenile with a commanding victory from the front in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Limerick.

Dermot Weld's three-year-old, who was not beaten too far when 10th in the Goffs Million Sprint at the Curragh last September, was sent off the 4-9 favourite.

Pat Smullen dictated the pace and when he quickened it up two furlongs out the race was soon in the bag, with newcomer Queen Commander staying on for second, three and a half lengths in arrears.< Encompassing broke his duck in impressive style to get Aidan O'Brien on the scoresheet in the SPIN Southwest Student Raceday (C & G) Maiden.

Hot favourite Rocky Elsom tried to burn them all off from the front and coming down the straight everything bar Encompassing was in trouble behind.

But Johnny Murtagh looked to have plenty under him and when he pulled out to challenge at the furlong pole, the 9-4 shot showed a smart turn of foot to score by two and a half lengths.< Dance Hall Girl wasn't winning out of turn when she took the Twilight Summer Racing Maiden for the Kevin Prendergast team.

Second in all three outings last season, the 2-1 shot showed the benefit of a run last month as she cut down Big Bad Billy Bob in the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter under Chris Hayes.

There were plenty in with chances a furlong out in the limerickraces.ie Online Special Packages Handicap, but Gary Carroll swept down the outisde on Michael Halford's well-backed 9-2 joint-favourite Hawkhill to win by half a length.

Jessica Harrington's smart hurdler No One Tells Me (11-8 favourite) stayed on well to lead in the final furlong and land the 'It's A Student Life' Handicap by two lengths under Fran Berry.

Padraig Beggy produced Slapper (4-1) with a perfectly timed run to grab favourite Tsar Paul in the shadow of the post to take the 5 After Five Handicap by a head for Paul Flynn.