Success over the Easter bank holiday weekend for Limerick jockey Wes Joyce

Mordor showed a lot of resolve to win the staying 1m6f handicap for older horses rated up to 100 at Navan on Monday, March 30

Trainer Gordon Elliott’s gelding was always pulling out that bit more up the stiff Navan hill in testing conditions at odds of 9-1, denying the 3-1 chance Galileo Dame by a length.

Winning jockey Chris Hays said: “The gallop they went suited. The pace was on, so I let him find his feet. He got outpaced at first and then came home well. I think he will improve.”

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Blue Train won on his handicap debut at Clonmel on Thursday after a battle from the final hurdle which saw him gain a length victory as the 5-2 second favourite.

Charles Byrnes trained with his son Philip Byrne doing the business in the saddle.

Blue Train is only four and was purchased from English trainer William Knight at the Newmarket Horses in Training Sale last October.

His first win based out of Co Limerick arrived on his fourth start, his first in handicap company, from a mark of 107.

The first Good Friday race meeting staged in Ireland prompted the Curragh’s bookmakers to sponsor the gate, meaning free entry for the public. Fair play to them.

The layers got off to a good start in the opening five-furlong maiden when outsider Lars Soldier downed two overwhelming favourites.

The 18-1 chance, trained by Mick Mulvany, pipped the Aidan O’Brien-trained 5-4  Confucius by a nose. The even-money favourite Edward Thatch was three lengths further back in third.

Ridden by Wesley Joyce, Lars Soldier was the trainer’s third winner of the new season, all arriving at headquarters.

The juvenile was bought for just €3,500 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling sale last November by the trainer’s brother Larry after whom the horse is named.

“He had experience. He ran here three weeks ago and I think that won it for him. It’s nice to get a good horse for that kind of money to win at the Curragh. It shows it can be done,” the trainer said.

“He’s a solid little horse and he will handle nicer ground.”

Billy Lee has started the new Flat season well and, barring a reoccurrence of something like the injury he sustained in a fall last summer, he should be the reckoning for champion jockey honours by the end of the season.

The Limerick jockey won the first two races at Cork on Saturday, the first of those being Velozee in the fillies’ maiden over furlongs. Trained by Paddy Twomey, the debutante snuck in by a short head at odds of 11-4.

Oh Cecilia has been kept busy in the early stages of the season, but Curragh trainer Ken Condon has been able to get two quick wins out of his recent recruit.

Her second success arrived not 24 hours after she ran at the Curragh over six furlongs. Back over five at Cork, Lee drove her to an impressive three lengths victory as the 100-30 favourite.

Owner David Kelly bought the filly for a bargain £9,000 in an online sale at the end of January.

Upcoming Fixtures

Weds April 8                   Gowran Park (first race 1.30pm)

Thurs April 9                   Gowran Park (first race 4.30pm)

Friday April 10                Dundalk (first race 5.07pm)

Friday April 10                Wexford NH (first race 3.45pm)

Saturday April 11          Bellewstown (first race 4.17pm)

Sunday April 12             Leopardstown (first race 2.05pm)

Sunday April 12             Down Royal NH (first race 1.55pm)