The Limerick-born and Lambourn-based trainer Brian Meehan saddled his first winner in Ireland when the enterprisingly ridden Tumbleweed Ridge won last night's Group Three Ballycorus Stakes at a poorly attended Leopardstown.
Jockey Michael Tebbutt was also having his first Irish winner and was allowed to ride the somewhat enigmatic Tumbleweed Ridge much as he pleased.
The riders of the market favourites Burden Of Proof and Wizard King were intent on restraint in the early stages as Tebbutt set a slow pace before gradually quickening on the turn in.
Burden Of Proof was quickly done with and although Wizard King ran on with his usual tenacity, Tumbleweed Ridge had stolen the race and past the post a length clear.
Meehan was at Kempton, where he also saddled a winner, and when contacted said: "Tumbleweed Ridge is a funny old horse who is hard to place and we sent him over for a change of scenery."
Wizard King's trainer Sir Mark Prescott was present and reported: "The winner enjoyed bowling along in front and although we quickened at the same time, he did so a length in front. But I thought our old horse ran very well."
The Listed Glencairn Stakes went to the 16 to 1 outsider and Dermot Weld second string Sense Of Honour, owned by Weld's mother Gita, who came late under Pat Shanahan to short head Renge on whom John Murtagh put up 1lb overweight.
"She's in foal to Catrail and will be retired honourably to the paddocks as a stakes winner. I thought running here was a little ambitious but my mother said if we weren't in, we couldn't win," said Weld. Shanahan was later given a two-day ban for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.
Campo Catino booked a ticket to run in the Irish Derby with a gutsy length and a half defeat of Make No Mistake in the Andrex Race. Last year the contest was won by the subsequent Derby runner-up Dr Johnson and in 1996 Zagreb was second to Damancher. Campo Catino's trainer Charles O'Brien said: "He's in the Derby and he could very well run. He's a big, tough horse who will improve."
The opening apprentice handicap saw two of the three horses who ran on the far side take first and third with En Retard, who paid over 63 to 1 on the Tote, holding off the fast finishing Fairy Oak by two lengths.
Noel Meade introduced a smart newcomer in the maiden when Fable beat Mus-If in a finish of necks and reported afterwards that he may run Saving Bond in next week's Bessborough Stakes at Ascot.
