Bolger’s fab four scoop the honours at Curragh

BRITAIN’S never-ending winter saw the William Hill Lincoln abandoned due to the weather and it was a total wipeout on the day for racing on grass in this country.

However, at a late card organised on the Fibresand at Southwell, the honours in the feature 32Red Handicap went to the Bryan Smart-trained Dubai Hills.

Conditions in Ireland were not as severe, which allowed the Curragh to kickstart proceedings. Jim Bolger had a near 194-1 four-timer courtesy of Saburo, Caesaria, Rehn’s Nest and Alpinist. The Coolcullen handler began by winning the Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden. Saburo (5-4 favourite) made a winning debut just 12 months after Bolger won it with leading Classic hope Dawn Approach.

Saburo, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, asserted close home to score nicely by two-and-a-quarter lengths, with My Sapphire finishing well to snatch second.

Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning added to their tally when another newcomer, Caesaria (5-1), denied Master Speaker in the Big Bad Bob Maiden. Bolger made it a hat-trick when Rory Cleary steered Rehn’s Nest (9-2) to victory in the Group Three Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes and Alpinist (13-8) finished the foursome when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden to give Manning a treble.