Trainer Kevin Prendergast recorded an opening races treble at The Curragh today while Aidan O'Brien's Eagle Mountain kept his Epsom Derby hopes alive with a very impressive win in the featured Group 2 Beresford Stakes.
Evening Time completed the Prendergast treble when running out the impressive winner of the Listed Hackett's Waterford Testimonial Stakes.
The grey daughter of Keltos, who was also completing a double for Prendergast's stable jockey Declan McDonogh, showed plenty of pace to easily prove five lengths too strong for Theann.
Prendergast later reported 'I didn't believe the form she showed when winning easily at Fairyhouse but she could do no more than she did there.'
He added 'the owner wanted to supplement her for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she could go there now.'
Afterwards, Cashmans Bookmakers introduced Evening Time at 25/1 for the Irish Classic.
McDonogh's amazing season is showing no signs of slowing up, and this season's Champion Jockey elect earlier partnered Ugo Fire to win the Listed Hackett's Waterford Testimonial Stakes for Prendergast.
Ugo Fire, runner-up in a Group 1 contest as a two year old, tracked the leaders before moving through to lead two furlongs out, eventually staying on best for a three and a half length win over Senor Benny.
Prendergast earlier landed the opening Hackett's Freefone 1800 200 484 Handicap when Chained Emotion defeat the unlucky-in-running Coseadrom by one length.
Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien's Eagle Mountain earned a quote of 20/1 from Cashmans (from 25/1) for next year's Epsom Derby after a very impressive seven lengths win in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes.
O'Brien later reported 'Eagle Mountain is really improving with his racing just he is like his father Rock Of Gibraltar. He is getting better all the time and the ground was no problem: we'll go for the Racing Post Trophy next.'
O'Brien later expressed his delight at Scorpion's comeback runner-up effort behind Frank Sonata in the Listed Finale Stakes while Noel Meade's Iktitaf stayed on well to win the Irish Cesarewitch Handicap under Pat Smullen.
At Limerick, the Tote Munster National Handicap Chase went to Davy Fitzgerald's locally trained Pearly Jack, under Niall 'Slippers' Madden.
Pearly Jack, runner-up in the race last year and also in last month's Kerry National, reversed placings with last year's Limerick winner Star Clipper, to eventually score by a length and a half.
Afterwards a delighted Fitzgerald reported 'he was due that win and may prove an Aintree horse in time. We'll run him in a Flat race next, to keep him fit, before going for the Beecher Chase.'
Justified justified odds of 8/15 on his seasonal debut to win the Sherry Fitzgerald O'Malley Chase under Tony McCoy.
Afterwards winning trainer Dusty Sheehy revealed 'Justified probably won't run over two miles again and will be stepped up in trip.'
He added 'it seems he is better jumping from a slower pace and Tony (McCoy) mentioned that when he 'forced' him at fences, he was inclined to jump to the left a bit.'
Jockey Barry Geraghty completed a double winning the opening Newenham Mulligan Novice Hurdle on Karl Wyse's Amalfitano before winning the 2m2f Handicap Hurdle on Edward O'Grady's on Bernabeu.
Former jockey Shane Broderick is beginning to make an impact as a trainer and his The Long Haul landed the Pat Keogh BMW Handicap Hurdle, under Broderick's assistant trainer Johnny Levins.
Thomas Weekes.
