Racing/Curragh report: Monty's Pass might have brought the Grand National crown to the Curragh yesterday but the Gladness Stakes went across-channel courtesy of Millennium Force.
Usually a key Classic trial, the Group Three pot only had one runner from the three-year-old division yesterday and Marino Marini could only manage a third place.
Instead it was One More Round, back from an abortive raid on the Dubai World Cup, who put it up to the Mick Channon-trained winner.
There wasn't much in it until well inside the final furlong but Millennium Force always looked likely to just squeak it and Chris Catlin got him home by a neck.
It was a second time for the colours of Aziz Merza to be carried to success in the Gladness as Millennium Force's sire Bin Ajwaad won it in 1995 while Channon also supplied a winner with Muchea in 1998.
Catlin, a former top apprentice, hasn't a bad Curragh record either as he also landed the Meld Stakes at the track last year.
"Ideally the ground might have been a bit softer for him but when we took it up he kept battling really well. It was a perfect pace, set up for me really," Catlin.
Channon wasn't at the Curragh but when contacted he said: "I don't know where he will go next. He's a difficult horse to place."
O'Brien wasn't unhappy with Marino Marini and said: "He is a fast horse and when the time comes he won't mind shortening up in distance."
Michael Kinane was out of luck on Marino Marini but still rode a treble, including Beef Or Salmon who made a popular winning return to action in the two mile handicap.
"Michael said he's just got paid for doing a bit of work. He's a quality horse and we can look forward to the Power Gold Cup now," said Michael Hourigan. "He came home perfect from Cheltenham except for a little muscle in his neck. It was a horrific fall in the Gold Cup and I hope he has learned.
"We won't blackguard him but if he had an easy race in the Power he could go to Punchestown. But he'll tell us and we can still dream about next year."
The Aidan O'Brien camp made their mark in the 10-furlong maiden with the second favourite Arundel. The 7 to 4 market leader Maharib and the winner arrived late on the scene as Queen Astrid faded but Arundel ultimately won out by what looked like a cosy head.
"He was terrible raw but won snug enough," was the O'Brien verdict and the trainer was back in the number one spot after the mile maiden too.
Dalcassian had just a neck to spare over the eye-catching 33 to 1 shot Timawari but O'Brien didn't hesitate to nominate a stakes race next for the winner.
"He got sore shins after his first run last year but he has been very good this season. He is going to be a nice horse and what I liked was the pace he showed," he said.
Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger were also on the double with the two-year-old Alexander Goldrun benefiting from a run in the opener and the topweight Avorado coming out tops in the spring handicap.
The six-furlong event was a tribute to the handicapper with less than a length covering the first four horses home.
Curragh-based trainer Robbie Osborne saddled a first winner at his local track, and a ninth in all, when Latino Magic held on from Tajseed in the nine-furlong handicap.
