HRI Racing Review

There was an abundance of Group 1 action on Sunday"s card at Leopardstown and most of the countries top stables managed to get in on the act. The Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes was won by the Mick Halford-trained Snaefell, who came late and fast to prevail by a head under Rory Cleary. The Group 2 Debutante Stakes witnessed a smart performance from the David Wachman-trained Again, who quickened well close home to come home by three lengths under Johnny Murtagh. Murtagh went on to complete a Group 2 double on the Aidan O"Brien-trained King Of Rome in the Royal Whip Stakes. The Group 3 Desmond Stakes saw an impressive winning performance from the durable Carribean Sunset for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, while the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes was won by the Kevin Prendergast-trained, Declan McDonogh-ridden Mores Wells. Walsh In Double Form Ruby Walsh was the star performer on Friday evening"s card at Tramore, riding a double on the card. He opened his account on the Henry De Bromhead-trained The Spoonplayer in the conditions hurdle before riding the Willie Mullins-trained Dani California to success in the 2m handicap hurdle. Elsewhere on the card, the Edward O"Grady-trained Manorville justified favouritism when winning the 2m 6f maiden chase under Andrew McNamara. Lyons Dominates Ger Lyons had a night to remember at Dundalk on Friday, completing a treble that included both premier handicaps on the card. The highlight came with the win of Dohasa in the 6f premier handicap under Keagan Latham, which followed the win of Kinetic Quest in the juvenile maiden under Emmet McNamara. Fiery Lad then completed Lyon"s haul when winning the 11f premier handicap under Johnny Murtagh. That win completed a double for Murtagh who had ridden Marquesa to success in the 7f maiden. Her Courtesy Prevails The 12f handicap was the most valuable race on Thursday evening"s card at Tramore and it was the Jarlath Fahey-trained Her Courtesy that emerged on top. Ridden by Michael Cleere, the four-year-old made all the running to beat Compton Court by two lengths. Caroline Hutchinson has been in tremendous form of late and she saddled Hu Ha Jo to won the 2m handicap hurdle in good style under Conor Maxwell. Elsewhere on the card, the David Marnane-trained Hampstead Heath won the three-year-old hurdle in good style under Kevin Coleman. Katiyra Prevails The John Oxx-trained Katiyra, who ran with credit in the English and Irish Oaks, returned to winning ways when running out the comfortable winner of the featured Hurry Harriet Stakes at Gowran Park on Wednesday. Ridden by Mick Kinane, the three-year-old led 3f out and was soon in control, eventually prevailing by an easy two lengths. The Sean Treacy-trained Dane Blue gained her fourth win at the track when prevailing in the 1m handicap under Ben Curtis. Elsewhere on the card, the Aidan O"Brien-trained, Seamie Heffernan-ridden Drumbeat won the juvenile maiden. Hadarama Stars John Oxx doesn"t have many 64-rated fillies in training and while Hadarama was rated just that before contesting the 60-90 handicap at Ballinrobe on Monday evening, she is sure to be running off a significantly higher mark when next seen having performed a demolition job on her opposition. Ridden by Niall McCullagh, the three-year-old made all the running and came home no less than 13 lengths in front. The other star performer on the card was the John McConnell-trained Royal Approval, who followed up a win over hurdle at Downpatrick the previous day with a facile win in the 12f handicap under Shane Foley. Rain Plays Havoc The unseasonably wet weather has claimed numerous Irish racing fixtures in recent days. Early on Saturday afternoon Tramore was forced to abandon the evening meeting that was planned later that day, as well as the scheduled meeting at the Co. Waterford track on Sunday. New Approach To Run The Epsom Derby winner, New Approach, has been given the green light to run for the first time since that win by his trainer, Jim Bolger. The chosen race is the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Tuesday where the son of Galileo could be opposed by the Aidan O"Brien-trained Duke Of Marmalade, in which case the race could justifiably be billed as the race of the season thus far.