Leopardstown report and news: Rhythm'n Roots claimed the Group Three PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning at Leopardstown yesterday.
The race has been used as a stepping stone to Epsom Derby glory in recent years by Galileo and High Chaparral but even though Aidan O'Brien launched a two-pronged raid on this year's renewal, the best he could manage was fourth with 9 to 4 favourite Mountain.
The 10 to 1 winner, a son of the former Henry Cecil-trained Daggers Drawn, holds an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but whether Bolger will take up that option after this victory over 10 furlongs remains to be seen.
After cutting out most of the running with Altimus, the second string from Ballydoyle, he shot clear on the run into the straight, an advantage that was not to be relinquished.
He held on by a neck from the fast-finishing Golden Arrow, trained by Dermot Weld, but neither hold an engagement at Epsom.
"He's a tough hardy horse who goes on any ground," said Bolger of the winner. "He gets the trip well but we're not sure where he will go next."
On the same card Mustameet won the Listed Heritage Stakes for Kevin Prendergast and Declan McDonogh in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Settled in mid-division in the early stages, the pace was quickened as the field turned into the straight by Bawaader, running in the second colours of the winning owner. McDonogh always had his mount nicely balanced and brought the 9 to 4 favourite through with a well-timed run to take up the running a furlong out.
He was followed by the Michael Grassick-trained Hard Rock City, who took second, a half-length in arrears, and the staying-on Democratic Deficit, a former Craven winner, in third.
The winner had finished six lengths behind Common World on his last start but that rival was withdrawn because of the ground not being soft enough.
"Last time at the Curragh he banged his head on the stalls and lost two teeth," said Prendergast.
Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien's weekend assault on Group races in France ended in disappointment at Longchamp yesterday. The Ballydoyle duo of Aussie Rules and Ivan Denisovich never really featured in the Group Three Prix Fontainebleau behind impressive winner Stormy River. Aussie Rules, under Kieren Fallon, was demoted from fourth to fifth after a stewards' inquiry.
The winner, trained by Nicolas Clement, produced a stunning burst of acceleration under Thierry Thulliez to beat outsider Light of Joy by four lengths to underline his Classic potential.
It didn't get much better for O'Brien in the other two Group races with Racing Post Trophy third Septimus and Poseidon Adventure well beaten in a muddling renewal of the Group Three Prix la Force won by Barastraight.
Daltaya won the Group Three Prix de la Grotte under Christophe Soumillon for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. O'Brien's Queen Cleopatra stayed on one-paced for fourth under Fallon.
Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill heads a high-class field of six for the Kerrygold Champion Chase over two miles at Punchestown tomorrow , the opening day of the festival meeting.
