Racing: Jim Bolger continued his incredible start to the new Irish Flat season with a treble at the Curragh this afternoon.
The County Carlow trainer has now saddled eight winners from just a handful of runners at three individual meetings, and two-year-old Eireannach (5-1) and Kevin Manning did their bit in the Donovan Printing EBF Maiden.
The colt had evidently learned from his fourth spot in the first race of the new campaign at the same track last month, holding off a variety of challenges to defeat Xtraxtra by a neck.
"He battled well," said Bolger. "A proper trainer wouldn't be running him now but my early one got a shin so we tried with him. He'll step up in trip later."
Bolger and Manning were not finished yet as 5-4 favourite Vocalised gave a thoroughly likeable performance in the Listed Newbridge Credit Union Loughbrown Stakes.
Manning decided to make his own running aboard the American-bred colt, who was fourth to the useful Sea The Stars before winning his own maiden at Leopardstown last September.
Nicely up the fair rail, Vocalised was always in command for a length and three-quarters victory.
"He is very uncomplicated. We were really hoping to get a bit of pace and sit in, but they were walking," said Bolger.
"He's a horse with a big future. He didn't come cheap and has a huge pedigree. He could go in any of the three main Guineas."
Bolger and Manning's hat-trick of successes came when Fergus McIver proved too good for his rivals in the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen European Breeders Find Maiden.