RACING: The Doncaster St Leger hero Brian Boru got his four-year-old career off to a winning start at Leopardstown yesterday but it was not the smooth return to action his odds might suggest.
After travelling perfectly to the straight, Brian Boru was kicked into the lead by Jamie Spencer only to then drift significantly to the left before the furlong pole.
The young jockey had his whip in his right hand and Brian Boru ended up causing interference to both the Jim Bolger-trained runner-up Napper Tandy and Mkuzi, who eventually finished fifth.
The stewards held a lengthy inquiry and ended up giving Spencer a two-day ban (April 10th-11th) for careless riding. However, they decided the winner had not improved his placing and made no alteration to the placings.
Aidan O'Brien nominated the Mooresbridge Stakes followed by the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup, both at the Curragh, as possible targets for Brian Boru who pleased his trainer despite the less than straightforward route to the finish line.
"Jim said hello to me on the way back so it can't have been too bad!" grinned O'Brien.
"There are lots of options for the horse and it was good to see him settling close to the pace today," he added.
"Jamie said he couldn't believe the pace he showed for 10 furlongs."
O'Brien and Spencer doubled up with the newcomer All To Beautiful in the 10-furlong maiden and Galileo's full sister did enough to earn a 20 to 1 quote from Ladbrokes for the Epsom Oaks.
"She's a beautiful filly who hadn't even been away before today. We will look at the 10-furlong Stakes race at Navan next month for her," said O'Brien.
Also on the double were Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen who got off the mark for the season with Megec Blis in the fillies maiden.
Megec Blis had half a length in hand of the slightly unlucky runner-up Sudden Silence with the favourite Lucky back in third.
"We'll see if we can get some black type into her," said Weld who doubled up with the very easy winner Mohawk Star in the mile handicap.
"He showed the benefit of a run at the Curragh. Fitness is a big help at this time of year. A run is a big advantage," he added.
The Tommy Stack newcomer Enfield Chase was all the rage for the seven-furlong maiden but found the 14 to 1 Gilberto half a length too good. "I told the owner to back the second," quipped Gilberto's trainer Eddie Lynam. "And he did!"
Cupid's Bow was well supported for the seven-furlong handicap despite being drawn on the wide outside and she showed why by powering through under Fran Berry to win comfortably.
High Day, a 42,000 guineas purchase out of John Oxx's yard last year, made a winning debut for Tony Mullins by making all in the Oakfield Handicap.
"We were looking for a summer handicapper and it looks like we've got one," said Mullins. "I's surprised but delightedly surprised. That was a good performance."
Swansea Bay was ruled out of Saturday's National after a blood test taken on the gelding did not satisfy trainer Peter Bowen. He will instead be targeted at the Scottish National at Ayr.
