Theatreworld stars

Michael Kinane has ridden better horses than Theatreworld but rarely a tougher one, a point that the remarkable Aidan O'Brien-trained stayer proved at Galway last night with a second successive win in the Guinness Handicap.

A well supported 5 to 2 favourite, Theatreworld was being pushed along by Kinane fully five furlongs out but punters who know the horse didn't despair.

Blend Of Pace kicked from the front approaching the straight as Try For Ever cruised in behind but between them, the redoubtable winner was only getting into his stride.

Kinane didn't once pick up his whip but Theatreworld battled on with a will and in the end won a trifle snugly.

Aidan O'Brien watched the race at home on television and nominated the Ebor at York as Theatreworld's next race. "He was unlucky in it last year. He was starting his run when the jockey was unseated. If he comes out of this race well, he will go back," said O'Brien who praised Kinane's ride.

"He gave him a great ride. Mick doesn't usually hit them and when he does it's because the game is nearly over, he added.

Kinane and O'Brien completed a double in the last when Twickenham confounded any doubts about him over the trip by easily outspeeding the other joint favourite Sanaka in the closing stages.

Kinane rode the favourite Archimedes in the Carlsberg Race but had to settle for third behind Chateua Lina although the result may have been different if the favourite's stable companion Golden Spice hadn't drifted alarmingly across the track in the straight.

Dermot Weld trained his first winner for the Florida-based computer software magnate Satish Sanan when Prospector John made all in the Smithwicks Maiden.

The bookmaker turnover was £1,453,706 with £368,054 bet on the last race alone. The Tote aggregate of £455,633 was up almost £6,000 on last year while the attendance figures hit 20,047.