JIM BOLGER, who has made a blistering start to the new flat campaign, recorded his seventh success of the season at a sparsely attended Navan yesterday when Saponana landed a gamble in the Dunboyne Handicap.
Supported from 5 to 1 to 9 to 4 favourite, the daughter of Pursuit Of Love swept to the front one and a half furlongs from home before drawing steadily clear from the distance to win handsomely by four lengths.
Bolger is confident his well bred filly can follow up with another victory: "She stays well and, if the handicapper isn't too harsh, she should win a similar type contest."
Poker School, bidding to give Curragh based trainer Charles O'Brien his first winner of the new campaign, attracted good support before the opening Duleek Maiden but favourite backers soon knew their fate when Christy Roche got serious with the Night Shift colt soon after the turn in.
The partnership eventually faded to finish fourth.
In contrast, Monongahela trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Seamus Heffernan, was still travelling well out in front. After quickly establishing a lead and despite swishing his tail in response to Heffernan's urgings from the furlong pole, he stayed on stoutly to beat Jim Bolger's duo, Nordic Project and Ganaway.
Following a stewards' inquiry into an incident before the turn in, where Ayres Rock, ridden by John Murtagh, was badly hampered, Conor Everard, rider of the runner up, was found to have ridden carelessly and was banned for eight days.
Rosenwald and John Butler looked to have the four runner Newgrange Maiden Hurdle wrapped up after quickening up nicely to lead on the run to the final flight. But after appearing to land full of running after a fluent leap, Rosenwald crumpled a couple of strides later.
His exit left front running Knockmoylan Castle and odds on chance Arctic Gale upsides, but recent Wexford bumper winner Lady Elise and John Roche sprouted wings from the back to head the pair 50 yards from home to win going away by three lengths.
Jimmy O'Conner, brother of Lady Elise's handler, Richie, also visited the winner's enclosure after his charge, Gentle Mossy, made all in the hands of his son "Doc" to take the Dowth Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty (17), a former national pony champion, was compensated for his defeat on Atha Beithe when he partnered Annaeline, trained by his boss, Noel Meade, to land the Rossnaree Handicap Hurdle to bring his seasonal tally to 10.
