ENGLISH raiders Hagwah and Lord Jim took the two listed races at Leopardstown yesterday afternoon, both profiting from front running tactics in the hands of Willie Ryan and David Harrison respectively.
Dropped in class for the Brownstown Stud Stakes after running fifth to Dance Design in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, Hagwah defied top weight of 9st 11lb to run out a 6 to 1 winner of the mile Listed event for Newmarket trainer Ben Hanbury and Arab owner Abdullah Ali.
A winner at listed level at Newmarket last season, Hagwah "has taken time to come to herself this year", according to Hanbury's ravelling head lad Grant Deane.
"She loved the bit of give in the round today, as it was very fast at the Curragh when she last ran in Ireland. Her best form is when bowling along in front," Dean added.
Willie Ryan, realising nobody was keen to go on, soon took command on Hagwah and although Christy Roche on the runner up Proud Titania got to about a neck off the winner, Ryan's mount soon picked up again to score by a length and a half with the favourite Charlock a head adrift in third without ever threatening to score.
Speaking from Newmarket, Hanbury said: "She is a lovely filly and now a very valuable broodmare. The plan would now be to win a Group Three contest, possibly in Germany.
Lord Huntingdon was on hand to see David Harrison similarly profit from forcing the issue on the blinkered Lord Jim in the colours of Mrs Sue Thomas.
Harrison gave the 5 to 1 chance a breather about half a mile out, allowing the pack to close, but soon kicked clear again entering the straight and was always looking too strong for runner up I'm Supposin as the favourite Fill The Bill got into traffic problems under Christy Roche.
"He was due to go to Vichy, but I'm glad now we did not head off to France with him. There is a two mile race that might be suitable at Baden Baden and we will think about going to Germany," Lord Huntingdon remarked.
Leopardstown is proving a happy hunting ground for Lord Huntingdon and Lord Jim was his fourth winner from six runners.
Eddie Ahern rode his 13th winner of the season and his first for Jim Bolger (who was recording his 67th winner of the season) when bringing Don't Care home two lengths clear of Diligent Dodger in the Joe McGrath Premier Handicap.
Of the winning rider, Bolger said: "He listens and he likes winning which is a help."
Bolger had earlier won the Swift Gulliver, a winner on his first ride back from suspension for Kevin Manning. "This is one for next year," said the winning trainer, who will now look for a Group event over seven furlongs or a mile for Swift Gulliver.
Described as very immature by his trainer, Dermot Weld, Act Of Defiance had little difficulty in the Granville EBF Maiden under Michael Kinane, who was recording winner number 40. A two length winner from Fairy Song, the favourite will be given one more run in a winners race this season before he is put away until next year.
. Trickery (Wayne Smith) provided Kilmallock trainer Austin Leahy with a rare two year old success at a wet Tipperary yesterday when edging ahead close home to beat Hartstown House by a neck in the August EBF Maiden.
The daughter of Cyrano de Bergerac carried the colours of former rider Evan Williams, who partnered the great Golden Miller to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as riding Royal Mail to success in the Aintree Grand National.
Jamie Spencer (16) recorded his third success on the Declan Gillespie trained Lancaster House in the Galteemore Handicap.
George Coogan, who finished fourth on Tinker Amelia, was penalised by the stewards for failing to ride his mount out for third place in the final 25 yards. Coogan had his riding fee forfeited and was suspended for two days (14th and 15th August).
With torrential rain during the afternoon, the official going - described as good to firm before racing - was changed to soft for the five runner Ferndale Novice Hurdle.
Victory went to Muskerry King and Willie Slattery who edged to the front past the tiring favourite, Rathgibbon, on the turn in before holding the challenge of Perfect Timmer and Charlie Swan by three parts of a length.
Swan had better luck when he landed the Tipperary Directors Golf Classic Maiden Hurdle on the Aidan O'Brien trained Erramore.
