Sunday 19th July, 2026 Red-hot O’Brien unearths another potential Star Performer

By John O'Riordan, Press Association

Joseph O’Brien said it will be a case of “small steps” rather than ambitious targets after a promising winning debut from Star Performer in the Cavalor Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.

A day after Johanna Walsh spreadeagled the field in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the unraced daughter of Sea The Stars was threaded through traffic by the same rider to win by two lengths going away.

For all the undoubted promise of this debut victory at 7-2, in-form trainer O’Brien insisted they would keep her sights low for the time being.

“She did a satisfactory trial last month and we thought she’d run a nice race here on debut,” he said. “It probably set up well for her. The thought would be that we’d go for probably smaller steps for now, rather than aggressive steps.

“She’s a daughter of Sea The Stars and you’d have to like the way she won today.”

O’Brien, who won the feature race of the day when Trustyourinstinct impressed in the Curragh Cup, was also on the mark with Kirkland Sioux (5-1) in the Racing World 50th Anniversary Irish EBF Fillies Handicap.

“She’s progressing and gets the mile well,” said O’Brien. “I’m very happy to win another one with her. How deep the race was it’s hard to know but she had a nice light weight on her back. There might be something for her in Galway.”

Jockey Colin Keane and trainer Ger Lyons were on the mark in the opening 1xBet.ie Proud Partners Of Irish Sport Irish EBF Maiden when 10-1 shot La Tache delivered at the third time of asking.

“He is slow out of the gates and Colin said he is never going to be any other way.  That’s who he is,” said the winning trainer. “But he is another sprinter to look forward to. It’s just taken a while for the penny to drop with him.”

Keane then doubled up himself on Paul Flynn’s I Ready (5-1) in the James Nolan Bar Kildare Nursery Handicap.

“He’s a horse that we thought might win an auction maiden. We probably got quite a bit of a high mark for trying to have a go at a few of them. The last day he was coming back off a break and I’d say he just came on from that,” said Flynn.

The closing Final Furlong Podcast With 1xBet.ie Irish EBF Maiden went to Jack Foley’s Tokyo Tower (6-1), ridden by Billy lee.

Sunday 19th July, 2026 Trustyourinstinct flies home to land Curragh Cup

By John O'Riordan, Press Association

Trustyourinstinct could have the Melbourne Cup in his sights after rattling home late to land the 1xBet.ie Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup under Declan McDonagh.

The six-year-old provided in-form Joseph O’Brien with a second super-sub winner of the weekend following victory in the Irish Oaks with second-string Johanna Walsh after Thundering On’s withdrawal.

Despite being the second best of O’Brien’s three runners in the betting behind market leader Al Riffa, he came home fast and late under McDonagh to land the prize at odds of 13-2, three-quarters of a length in front of 25-1 shot Happy Pharoah.

“He always runs well here at the Curragh. Stepping up in trip today, I think the race set up pretty well for him,” said O’Brien.

“He’s a good horse. We were pretty happy with the trip to be honest. I think Declan quietly fancied him. He’s ran great all year and like I say, particularly here. He’s at his best here. He’s a great servant.

“I think he’ll be coming back for every Group race at the Curragh that he can run in, the Leger being one of them probably.

“Potentially he could go to the Melbourne Cup. It’ll be an option for him for sure.”

If Trustyourinstinct does make it to Flemington for the race that stops a nation on the first Tuesday in November he will be bidding to give O’Brien a third win in the race having sent Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020 to land the prize.

O’Brien added of last year’s winner and the beaten odds-on favourite Al Riffa: “He ran a good race, it was a bit messy down the inside and he never really got rocking.”

McDonagh said of Trustyourinstinct: “I think that’s the third or fourth time I’ve won on him and I was just saying to Frank (Berry, racing manager) that is the first time he’s had his ground, he’d gallop down the road if you asked him too.

“Dropping him out was important to get him to relax early. The tempo was lovely for the first three furlongs then they just pulled it up in front and once they started doing that I knew I was in business because he has a great kick.

“He’s a right horse, he’s enjoying it now and has options, maybe an Irish Leger or something.”

Sunday 19th July, 2026 Power Blue regains winning thread in Minstrel

By John O'Riordan, Press Association

Power Blue dropped down in trip and returned to winning ways to deny course specialist Big Gossey a first Group-race win in the  Glenroyal Hotel And Shoda Cafe Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh.

Charles O’Brien’s Big Gossey had won at the track an incredible 10 times but has not managed to win above Listed level.

This looked a good opportunity in a relatively small field but in Power Blue he was up against a Group One-winning juvenile and that class told.

Having been up against the likes of Bow Echo and Gstaad so far this season, Robson De Aguiar’s charge was the clear form pick and so it proved, looming alongside Audience a furlong out before kicking clear.

To his credit, Big Gossey stayed on from the rear to get within a length and a half of the 11-10 favourite, who was ridden by Rossa Ryan, but his wait for a first Group-race win goes on.

“He has been running in tough races like the Guineas. He’s been to Ascot. He’s such a nice horse. He always runs well,” said De Aguiar.

“We think he’ll go to York now in the Group One (City of York Stakes). The race for him is over seven furlongs again.

“The first time he’s met older company and he’s done well. It’s such a pleasure to train a horse like him. He puts his head down and does the maximum he can for you.

“I’d say he is versatile with trip. He can go six, seven or a mile. It depends on the races. He had been running against the best three-year-olds in Europe and he did well.

“I think he deserved the win today and that will get his confidence back. He will stay over seven-furlongs at York. That could be a fast seven-furlongs and it should help him. He can make the running or he can sit in behind. He’s a horse that’s always off the bridle but he keeps finding all the time you ask him.”

De Aguiar and Ryan had already been on the scoresheet with surprise 50-1 winner Shi Yang in the 1xBet.ie Supporting Irish Sport Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

“She’s improving. She was a little bit timid the first two runs and five furlongs was a little bit short,” said De Aguiar.

“Today, seven furlongs, she’s more experienced and she’s galloped in front. She took the lead and kept on to the line. I’d say seven-furlongs around a bend would help her as well. I think if she improves again she should be able to get her black type.”

Sunday 19th July, 2026 Quinn banking on Goodwood return to reignite Jungle

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

It could be a case of history repeating for Jm Jungle who will head to Goodwood to defend his King George Qatar Stakes crown on the back of an encouraging third at York.

John and Sean Quinn’s top sprinter filled the same position in the City Walls Stakes 12 months ago before landing Group Two honours on the Sussex Downs and having been delighted with his performance on the Knavesmire, his training team are eyeing another bold bid at a venue he enjoys visiting.

John Quinn said: “We’re hoping it sets him up well and I think it was a well above average Listed race.

“The second (Aspect Island) was third at a Breeders’ Cup and the winner (Redorange) is an improver. There was also a Grade One winner in the race (Starlust) who was behind us, albeit he didn’t get the best run through the race.

“We were very pleased with our horse and he’s come out of the race really well. His figures this year don’t really do him justice but he ran great at Royal Ascot in the King Charles III and he also ran great first time in the Palace House.

“The main thing is he has come out of York well and we’re pleased with that. He’s won a handicap at Goodwood as well as the Group race last year so he’s going there as a dual course winner and we’re looking forward to it.”

Jm Jungle rapidly rose through the ranks last season to leave handicap competition well behind him, with his Goodwood success signalling a second half of the season mixing it with the best sprinters around.

The top-level competition has continued this term and shows no sign of stopping with Goodwood the start of a busy run of elite contests pencilled on the six-year-old’s calendar.

Quinn added: “The plan is Goodwood, York (for the Nunthorpe), Curragh (for the Flying Five) and we’ll probably put him in the Prix de l’Abbaye again – he didn’t get a draw there last year but if he got a draw I think he’d run well.”

Sunday 19th July, 2026 Improving Tokaido lands four-timer in Papin

By Press Association Sport Reporters

Amy Murphy has a very exciting juvenile on her hands as Tokaido stretched his winning run to four with an easy success in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.

A disappointing field of only three lined up for the Group Two with his two rivals both being provided by Joseph O’Brien.

One of those, King Of Cloughan was a Royal Ascot winner in the Windsor Castle but after his stablemate, the filly Beibhinn, dropped away, he was unable to provide any worthwhile opposition to the impressive winner.

Tokaido has now won at Listed, Group Three and Group Two level for former Newmarket handler Murphy and jockey Tony Piccone, and his next start now looks likely to be in the UK.

“That was amazing, obviously we wanted to see him do that and it was more like a racecourse gallop today, he’s done it well so we’re very happy,” Murphy told Sky Sports Racing.

“We’re very lucky to have found him and huge thanks to the owners for sending him to me.

“Sadly he’s a gelding so he can’t run in the Prix Morny so he’s going to run in the Harry’s Half Million at York (August 20).”

Piccone said: “For me he is a champion because he can go in front, he can wait, he is a very easy horse and he was good today.

“I didn’t know how the tactics were going to go but Amy told me to try to wait and then come when you want.

“He was relaxed and the pace was not so very fast in the first 200 or 300 metres. When he came he came so easy and he won easy. I didn’t ask him the maximum and, for me, I think he could be better at seven furlongs.

“When you ask him to be relaxed he relaxes. He is better on the softer ground but when a horse is good they can go on fast ground and soft ground. I’m very happy for Amy and it is a good day.

“I hope I can win a Group One with him.”

Sunday 19th July, 2026 Bond excited as string continues to build

By Gideon Brooks, Press Association

Owner Charlie Bond believes he has assembled an exciting collection of horses as he bids to take the distinctive yellow and black silks of Bond Thoroughbreds Ltd to the next level.

Using the springboard of their best-ever season last year with 25 winners, Bond has ramped up a calculated multi-million investment on higher quality horses for trainers in England, France and Ireland.

And he has been rewarded with a stellar line up of Group standard horses spread across principal trainers Paddy Twomey, Geoff Oldroyd, Andrew Balding and Christopher Head in France.

Bond, whose father Reg famously spun £350 compensation for an industrial accident into a huge tyre wholesaling empire which Charlie runs, is now eyeing a string of Group prizes for his runners from now until the end of the season.

“We decided off the back of a good year to invest again, especially in the fillies because we obviously have got the stallion, Maranoa Charlie, out at Tally-Ho Stud and we want to get the right mares to him to give him every chance,” said Bond.

“He had 178 in foal in his first year and he could be the real deal further down the line as he’s a Wootton Basset out of a Galileo mare and half-sister to Tiggy Wiggy.”

Twomey is preparing a big raiding party of Bond horses for the Ebor meeting which could see them double handed in the Lowther Stakes with Concorde Landed and In The Black. The owner also spoke with excitement about Big Money Man who could take in the Acomb Stakes.

But it is not all about York with the Balding-trained Marvelman skipping the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury on account of the ground but expected to build towards a big back-end of the season after a promising second to Paborus on the all-weather at Newcastle.

And then there was City Of Dubai, a hugely promising first time out winner of a Killarney maiden which has twice in the last 10 years thrown up the winner of the Derby

“It was a nice introduction for City Of Dubai. We thought he could win but he wasn’t fully wound up and he’s probably more of a French Derby type than an English,” said Bond.

“But that is a lot further down the line and we have to do a lot of the right things between now and then. He should come on a lot for the run though. Paddy has in mind just one more run before the end of the year.

“Concorde Landed won a Naas maiden by five lengths from an Aidan O’Brien filly (Snowing) and with our horses with Paddy if they win first time out they probably are quite exciting because we have an agreement that we don’t put the gun to their heads just let them enjoy it.

“The way she went through the race that day and her sectional times was quite outstanding. Somebody told me she hit the line easing down at 41 mph. It is quite exciting and she goes straight for the Lowther or she takes a Listed race at Naas on Wednesday on the way

“In The Black won at Carlisle on debut and she has shown a lot of ability and Concorde Agreement is another exciting addition we bought after she was placed in a Group Two that has worked out really well with the subsequent Ribblesdale third Gilded Prize behind her.

“She will go straight into a Group One.”

Marvelman, bought just days after he won the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster last September, may have skipped this weekend’s games but will be aimed at the easier ground in the second half the season.

“We don’t want to jar him on the hard ground because the way that he won his Group Two at Doncaster when the rain came  he was exceptional. And probably without the penalty up at Newcastle last time he would probably have won that race,” said Bond.

“Big Money Man goes either for the Group Three Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville on August 16 or to York while Phenomenal Filly is another who was unlucky in a Group Three at Leopardstown first time up, finishing second despite being a couple of pieces of work short.”

Sunday 19th July, 2026 O’Brien seeks confidence boost for A Boy Named Susie

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Donnacha O’Brien will seek a confidence-booster for his talented Eclipse runner-up A Boy Named Susie before returning to the top table later in the season.

The son of Starspangledbanner, who is owned by the trainer’s sister Ana, has consistently enhanced his reputation with some fine performances in defeat, starting at two when chasing home Pierre Bonnard in the Criterium International and continuing into his Classic season.

A somewhat luckless fourth behind Constitution River in the French Derby on his penultimate start, he again bumped into the year’s leading three-year-old middle-distance colt when a brave second at Sandown most recently.

Remarkably A Boy Named Susie is without a victory since his Killarney debut and with that in mind, O’Brien has a slight drop in level in mind, with a trip to Deauville for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on August 15 or the Curragh’s Royal Whip Stakes a day later seen as the ideal options to tee-up high-ranking assignments in the autumn.

O’Brien said: “He’s A1 since the Eclipse and he will probably go for the mile and a quarter Group race in France or the Royal Whip at the Curragh the day after. We’ll probably go for one of them before looking for a bigger target in the autumn.

“We would just like to get a win into him and give him a bit of confidence before we step back up to Group One class. We think he’s a Group One horse and I think he will probably be even better again next year.”

A Boy Named Susie was subject of reports that he had been sold to Australia last week, but although a trip to the southern hemisphere for the Cox Plate remains a possibility, O’Brien confirmed he will remain in his care as he plots an exciting end to his charge’s three-year-old campaign.

O’Brien added: “He hasn’t been sold. The Cox Plate, the Breeders’ Cup and the Irish Champion are all possible races for him.

“We could also look at the Champion Stakes at Ascot and I wouldn’t even rule out having a look at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes with him on Champions Day. He’s a horse with a lot of options.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Owen enjoys treble on profitable afternoon at Market Rasen

By Molly Hunter, Press Association

High Fibre continued James Owen’s successful association with the Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle when striking for the stable on a lucrative afternoon at Market Rasen.

A dual-purpose campaigner previously trained by Harry Fry, the seven-year-old changed hands recently and made his first start for new connections when third in a York handicap earlier in the month.

He was a 7-2 chance to strike under Sean Bowen, and provided his stable with their third victory in this contest when prevailing by two-and-three quarter lengths.

“He was amazing really, he stayed very well throughout a long run in. He was actually off the bridle most of the way round,” Owen said.

“They went a hell of a gallop, which they do in this race. I thought he was well handicapped and he learnt a lot when we ran him at York the other day.

“We took all the head gear off, he was just looking around so we put the visor on today and hoped it would bring out that bit of improvement and it did.

“He’s usually a strong traveller and I thought a better race would suit him, it took him off the bridle. Off a light weight and with a great ride, he’s won well.”

Gordon Elliott was rewarded for sending Master Haku across the Irish Sea as he took the Betway Free Bet Club Novices’ Hurdle as the 1108 joint-favourite.

Ridden by Sean Bowen, the five-year-old left behind him a pulled-up effort last time and saw off co-favourite Loriko to prevail by half a length.

“I don’t know what happened last time, he pulled up with a circuit to go,” said Bowen.

“That wasn’t his running. He stays well and he actually needed every yard of that trip to get up.

“He showed a good attitude. His two jumps over the last two probably sealed it for him. He was brave when he needed to be.”

Owen struck again when Harry Cobden’s patient ride aboard No More Bolero (11-8) secured a two-and-a-quarter length success in the Betway Bet The Responsible Way Handicap Hurdle.

Mark Walford’s Giovanni Change (7-1) continued his love affair with Market Rasen after easing to his seventh career triumph at the Lincolnshire track in the Betway Boosts Handicap Chase, while Mr McWhinney justified his tag as 6-4 favourite for Tom Ellis in the Read Paul Townend’s Betway Blog Handicap Chase.

The concluding Watch Live Racing At Betway Handicap Hurdle then went the way of Oneinthewell as the 4-1 joint-favourite, with Jonathan Burke doing the steering as the final leg of Owen’s treble was sealed.

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Saffie Osborne excels as Zigazig Ah bags Super Sprint

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

It was all about the girls in this year’s Weatherbys Super Sprint as Saffie Osborne and Richard Spencer’s speedy filly Zigazig Ah emerged victorious in a thrilling four-way finish to the lucrative Newbury feature.

The lightly-weighted Yarmouth winner was amongst 24 wannabes for the prestigious juvenile prize and ended up picking up the first prize of £143,000 after 24-year-old Osborne delivered her mount to precision to claim a victory that was met with great celebrations from connections back in the winner’s enclosure.

Osborne said: “I was very unsure two or three strides down and then when I hit the line I was like, ‘oh, I might have won that’!

“I enjoyed that one way more than I thought I would. I think when the photo is that close and you don’t know you are preparing for the worst, but I’m delighted it went our way.

“It makes it more special as she’s a homebred of Phil Cunningham’s (owner) by Rajasinghe and is really special to them. I’d like to think I’m part of their team now and good friends with them, so it means more when you are winning for people you love riding for.”

Although the 17-2 chance did not have experience of many of her rivals, she proved a consummate professional, showing her toughness when it mattered most to edge a nose verdict over Henry Candy’s Angels Lane and Laura Pearson, with Karl Burke’s Final Appeal a further short head back in third.

Osborne added: “It felt like she was in a five-runner race rather than a 24-runner race and considering she was one of the first in the stalls, she was so professional for a filly who has only run twice.

“The form of her two runs isn’t brilliant, but we always thought she was better than those two runs and she didn’t have much weight on her back, so it couldn’t have gone more smoothly really.”

Spencer, who also saddled the 7-2 favourite Etienne to finish fourth, was delighted to see the talented winner get her head in front, albeit after a nervous wait as the judge deliberated over the verdict.

Spencer said: “I hate celebrating and when you watch them cross the line like that, I just try to stay neutral as there’s so many times you think you’ve won and you’ve actually got beat.

“She was down with a couple of strides to go and it was very close on the jam stick, but Saffie has given her a great ride and she saw out the trip well, which has helped at the end there.

“She’s a tough, consistent filly that hopefully we can have a lot of fun with. She’s in as many of the sales races as we could put her in and she gets a low weight. Whether we go to Goodwood I don’t know, but she will go for some sales races and black type along the way.

“Saffie is part of a great team of jockeys we’ve got now and they all get on. We have no preference and no hierarchy but when they work hard they get their rewards.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Johanna Walsh steps up to deliver effortless Irish Oaks success

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Johanna Walsh proved a more than able deputy for her stablemate Thundering On as she ran out a facile winner of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

Thundering On blew her rivals away in the Oaks at Epsom last month and while she had since proved no match for top-class older mare Estrange in the Pretty Polly Stakes, she was well fancied to complete a Classic double on home soil, only to be declared a non-runner on Saturday morning.

Despite her absence, Joseph O’Brien still fired a twin assault in his bid for an Oaks double of his own, with Johanna Walsh – runner-up to the reopposing Earth Shot in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month – joined by the unbeaten Rebel Moon.

Johanna Walsh was a well backed 7-2 shot in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle and after tracking the Ballydoyle pacemakers into the home straight, she opened up from two furlongs down to leave the chasing pack trailing in her wake, with four lengths the winning margin.

David Menuisier’s French Oaks third Inis Mor was best of the rest in second ahead of Sparan Nua in third and Rebel Moon in fourth.

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Celeron powers to Railway Stakes success

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Celeron bounced back from Royal Ascot disappointment with a runaway victory in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

Michael O’Callaghan’s juvenile had made a big impression on his racecourse debut at this venue in early June and as a result connections travelled to the Royal meeting with hopes ahead of his tilt at the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Unfortunately a slow start put him on the back foot from the start, however, and he never threatened to land a telling blow, but he showed his true colours back on home soil.

A 7-2 shot in the hands of Oisin Murphy, Celeron quickened up to take over the lead racing inside the last of six furlongs and passed the post with three lengths in hand over Tribeca. Aidan O’Brien’s 11-10 favourite Confucius was only third.

O’Callaghan said: “Any day you can get Oisin is a bonus – he gave him a great ride.

“I was a little bit worried about the trip today – six furlongs looks like his minimum now. He won his maiden over six furlongs but when this horse steps up to seven furlongs or even a mile, we’ll see the best of him.

“Oisin said today it was only because of his class he got through. He found the pace mid-race a little bit hot, but he said the horse has plenty of class and took plenty of pulling up.

“His next race will be over seven furlongs and he could be a horse to go a mile next May.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Cover Up battles gamely to land Sapphire Stakes

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Cover Up finished with a flourish to lead home a British one-two-three-four in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s winner struck gold twice in Dubai during the winter and was last seen finishing in midfield in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A 7-1 shot dropping down to Group Two level in Ireland, the six-year-old looked flat out at the halfway stage under James Doyle, but with the near side rail to help he kept himself in the fight and was doing his best work at the finish as he got up to score by three-quarters of a length.

Dave Loughnane’s Partisan Hero was second ahead of Robert Cowell’s Jakajaro in third and the George Boughey-trained 5-2 favourite Rosy Affair in fourth.

Ed Crisford said: “He’s a really wonderful horse to have in the stable, a high-quality sprinter who did well in Dubai.

“Ascot was the aim but he just got no run really, running into the back of horses.

“We thought this track would suit him well. I was a little bit worried because there was no rain and we always thought he liked to get his toe in a bit, but he handled it super and finished really well.”

Cover Up will now return to Group One company, with an appearance at York next month on the agenda.

Crisford added: “We’ll run in the Nunthorpe and maybe come back here for the Flying Five.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Symbol Of Honour shines in Hackwood Stakes

By Adam Morgan, Press Association

Symbol Of Honour took a step forward from his UK comeback at Newcastle to make a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

Winner of the Carnarvon Stakes over the course and distance last year, Charlie Appleby’s gelding had been without a victory since following up that success in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

However, after a spell in Dubai he made an encouraging reappearance on home soil when third in last month’s Chipchase Stakes and showed his class as a 7-2 shot in Berkshire, powering home to a one-and-a-quarter-length victory over Charlie Hills’ evergreen Mitbaahy, who finished a game second.

Winning rider William Buick said: “He definitely came on for his run at Newcastle where he ran well and this sort of flat track and fast ground is really to his liking.

“He won the three-year-old race (Carnarvon) here last year so we knew he would like the track and I thought that was a good performance.

“He likes to be produced late, but he’s a very genuine, honest horse and that was a straightforward win for him really.

“There’s never much between the sprinters so hopefully he can go on to mix it with the better ones.”

Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam added: “It was nice to see him back winning again and he came on for his run at Newcastle.

“I think this probably his trip and fast ground suits him. Charlie didn’t have any immediate plans but we might have a look at a Group Two and step up and see where he is.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Bowen family win another Summer Plate with Queensbury Boy

By Molly Hunter, Press Association

Queensbury Boy upheld the Bowen family honour when claiming the Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

Peter Bowen enjoyed a fantastic record in the valuable summer jumps contest with eight victories on his CV, and now his son Mickey has taken over the reins at their Pembrokeshire stable.

The yard was represented by three runners as King Roly and Pour Les Filles also lined up, with Queensbury Boy ridden by his brother James at 15-2.

Dan Skelton’s Kingston Narcissus was the 3-1 favourite and turned for home looking an obvious winner, but Queensbury Boy continued to gain ground on the rail and prevailed by a neck.

“I was going to turn him away for a summer break and my dad said ‘what are you doing turning this away? He’s going to win the Summer Plate!’,” said the winning trainer.

“How right was he! Without him he probably wouldn’t have run in it.

“I thought King Roly would run well if he handled the big handicap, but he was probably a bit green early on. He stayed on well at the end (to finish ninth).

“Pour Les Filles would have run a great race, but he got hampered by the faller and that’s why he was pulled up.”

Of Queensbury Boy, who was purchased from David Maxwell’s dispersal, Bowen added: “This horse has been a little bit frustrating because he’s gone well without winning, but he’s put it together today.”

Saturday 18th July, 2026 Moody upstages stablemate One Look in Meadow Court

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Moody led from start to finish to upstage her better fancied stablemate One Look in the Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes at the Curragh.

One Look was a 5-6 favourite to successfully defend her title in the Group Three contest, with Moody a 15-2 shot as she stepped down in trip but up in class in search of her fourth successive victory.

Billy Lee’s mount was soon bowling along in front and never really looked like being reeled in, passing the post with three and a half lengths in hand over British raider Rhapsody in second. One Look failed to pick up and was ultimately disappointing in sixth place.

Of the winner, trainer Paddy Twomey said: “She’s a nice filly. She’s won her Listed race, her Listed race with a penalty and a Group Three now.

“She’s versatile. With Mr (Andre) Fabre she’d ran at nine furlongs twice. She’s just tough and I’d say she’s good too.

“She’s in the Prix Jean Romanet, she’s in the Yorkshire Oaks and she’s in the Prix Vermeille – she’s in everything.”

Lee was completing a quickfire double on the card, having previously steered Rebel Wave to victory in the Hailey Equine Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

Willie McCreery’s youngster had shown a decent level of ability in her first three races and put that experience to good use, finishing strongly to get up and beat promising newcomer Stooked by a head.

McCreery said: “I’m delighted with that. She did nothing wrong in Limerick (finished a head second on her latest outing) and has come on from that.

“If you don’t win the next day, you’re going backwards. She’s won and I thought she fought well there to win. She’s a hardy filly and she’s going the right way.

“We’ll keep her in a fillies’ handicap or look around for a bit of black type.”

Porto Vecchio made an impressive debut for Dermot Weld in the Juddmonte ‘Lead Artist’ Irish EBF Maiden.

The son of Frankel is a full-brother to the stable’s Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs and looks a smart prospect judged on the way he travelled strongly before picking up well under Chris Hayes to score by a cosy half-length from Victory Speech.

Mac Swiney (2020), Henry Longfellow (2023) and The Lion In Winter (2024) are among the high-class recent winners of this race and Weld expects his 9-1 victor to go on to bigger and better things.

“He’s a very progressive colt and I thought he’d run a very nice race,” he said.

“He hasn’t been on grass this year yet, which is surprising for one of mine. This was his first time, so I thought he just might find it all a little bit strange and he’d be a little bit immature, but he did it all very professionally.

“He’s a good colt. I think he’s definitely stakes calibre and I’d hope that we could build him into a horse that could run in the Group One National Stakes, that would be the plan for him.”