Cannes got a profitable afternoon for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle at Leopardstown off to a winning start with victory in the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden.
While a treble for trainer and jockey was highlighted by James J Braddock in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial, there was plenty to like about Cannes, who benefited for the step up to a mile and a half to make it third time lucky.
The 4-5 favourite bettered his two second-placed finishes as he picked off long-time leader Antigua with a furlong to go and quickly put the race to bed. The Sea The Stars colt galloped home two and a quarter lengths clear of Almazann, with stablemate Count Bezukhov staying on well for a promising third.
“He’s a nicely-bred horse and he’s had two nice runs building towards today,” said O’Brien.
“He won really nicely today and hopefully the best is yet to come.
“I’d say he might go into a nice three-year-old handicap somewhere.”
After McMonagle timed his run to perfection aboard James J Braddock to collar Pierre Bonnard, 9-4 favourite Johanna Walsh made all to win the “It’s Family Day At Leopardstown” Fillies Maiden.
O’Brien and Browne McMonagle looked on course for a four-timer when Kilcrea Rock cruised into the lead in the Leopardstown Golf, Padel, Range Handicap but the Michael Grassick-trained Truth Be Told (17-2) came from last to first to claim the honours and give Billy Lee a treble of his own.
