Fozzy Stack claims first Flat Classic

Tipperary Racing Scene

A til at the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May is very much on the cards for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Brilliant which made a winning return to action in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes as the 2024 Flat season began at the Curragh on Monday week last.

Ridden by Declan McDonogh, the 7/2 chance battled well to get the better of her fellow three-year-old Alpheratz, trained by Joe Murphy, by half a length. The pair finished three-parts of a length ahead of the Joseph O'Brien-trained favourite Goldana in third place.

The most valuable race of the day, the €100,000 Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire Handicap, went the way of the Fozzy Stack-trained Chazzesmee. A 3/1 favourite in the hands of Joey Sheridan, the six-year-old came from a little off the pace and led inside the final furlong to beat the Andy Slattery-trained Smooth Tom by a length. Fozzy’s father Tommy won the race as a trainer on three occasions.

Paddy Twomey was a winner with his first runner of the season as the Billy Lee-ridden Procrastinate scored a battling success in the three-year-old maiden over seven furlongs. A 2/1 chance, the debutant certainly knew his job and he dug deep to repel the Fozzy Stack’s favourite Marty The Party and Joey Sheridan by three-parts of a length.

Ger O’Leary was the first of the local trainers off the mark and he took the five-furlong handicap with Real Force. Ridden by Wayne Hassett, the seven-year-old recorded his fifth career win when easily brushing aside the Willie McCreery-trained Stag Night.

On his second jumping start, the Joe Murphy-trained Immutable won the opening maiden hurdle at Cork on Thursday. With Danny Mullins riding in the colours of owner Gerard Kervick, the 7/2 chance clearly improved on his Fairyhouse debut and took advantage of an error at the final hurdle from the front-running Jeaniemacaroney, trained by Joseph O'Brien, to score by a length and a half.

Fethard trainer Willie Browne’s good run of form on the all-weather continued at Dundalk on Friday evening where Pro Bono Alexander landed the opening five-furlong handicap. Ridden by Wayne Hassett, the 25/1 chance scored a runaway success in the colours of owner Noel O’Callaghan, leading after halfway to beat the John McConnell-trained favourite Phil’s Dream by all of four and three-parts of a length.

Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee landed a cosy win of their own at Naas on Sunday where Purple Lily took the eight-furlong conditions’ race. Successful on her debut at last year’s Galway festival, she made a winning return to action when easily beating the Aidan O'Brien-trained Portland by three lengths at odds-on favourite. The Irish 1,000 Guineas is a possible target for the Zinlo Syndicate-owned winner.

The Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes went the way of Sunchart which was scoring a deserved win having previously finished as runner-up in the race. Trained for Pat Garvey by Andy Slattery, the well-supported 5/1 chance led early in the straight under Andrew Slattery and he steadily pulled clear to win by six and a half lengths from the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Knight To King.

Upcoming Meetings

Cork – Saturday, March 30 (First Race 1.15pm)

Fairyhouse – Saturday, March 30 (First Race 2.10pm)

Fairyhouse – Sunday, March 31 (First Race 1.25pm)

Cork – Sunday, March 31 (First Race 1.10pm)

Fairyhouse – Monday, April 1 (First Race 2.05pm)

Cork – Monday, April 1 (First Race 1.48pm)