Comer targets Galway Plate with Tajweed

Meath football team sponsor and horse trainer Luke Comer could have his sights set on having a crack at the Galway Plate after Tajweed won a trial for the big race at Tipperary on Sunday. Tajweed finished fourth to the Dermot Weld-trained Prince Erik on his debut over fences at Naas, but failed to improve on that in two subsequent outings before reverting to the flat, also at Naas, at the beginning of this month. Over 10 furlongs on the flat Tajweed made the running and won for the first time in three years a couple of weeks ago. Tajweed was also prominent throughout at Tipperary on Sunday before winning by two lengths. Also at Tipperary on Sunday, Slane trainer Pat Martin achieved a notable feat when Donatis Comet completed a hat-trick of bumper wins and could also head for an amateur race at Galway. Martin was on the mark again on Monday evening at Ballinrobe when Navan jockey Andrew Thornton partnered the aptly-named Cinderella Story , hadn't won in 15 runs on the flat, to victory in a maiden hurdle. Dunshaughlin jockey Keith Donoghue sustained an injury in the race when his mount, Presenting Kate, was brought down two from home. Navan businessman Eamonn Duignan had plenty of reasons to smile at Kilbeggan on Friday night where his six-year-old Capisci ran out an easy winner of the concluding bumper. Capisci disappointed on his first outing at Gowran last February where the going was soft to heavy, but good ground at Kilbeggan seemed to make a difference. The result was never in doubt as Katie Walsh made every post a winning post and won easily by 13 lengths. A winners bumper could be the next target ahead of a spin over hurdles and possibly fences. Also at Kibeggan on Friday the Gordon Elliott-trained Trendelenburg and the Willie Mullins-trained Otay Kawn fought out an exciting finish in the beginners chase with a dead heat declared. Otay Kawn was sent-off at 5/1 for David Casey and disputed the lead with Trendelenburg from before the straight. However,11/8 favourite Trendelenburg battled on gamely on the run-in getting on terms on the line under Paul Carberry. "A dead heat will do great, my father and uncle and a bunch of lads from Summerhill ownd him, so its great for them," commented Elliott. Oristown trainer Michael Mulvany has a useful group of two-year-olds this season and saw another one of them win at The Curragh on Saturday evening. Battleroftheboyne (14/1) was third on his debut at Dundalk and then ran below expectations in two subsequent outings. However, for Ben Curtis got Battleroftheboyne home in front in a nursery handicap, the first nursey of the season, ahead of Kingdomforthebride and the Ger Lyons-trained 7/2 favourite Greek Canyon A nursery at Galway at the end of this month is the next target. TELEVISION FEATURE Ballivor horsetrainer Joanna Morgan will feature this week in a Horse Racing Ireland-commissioned six-part reality series called 'Stars go Racing' which airs on RTÉ One this Wednesday 20th July, 8.30 in what is described as a fast-paced reality show. She will team up with hotelier and TV presenter Francis Brennan and mentor him in their quest to pip five other teams to the post. Each week, the show will come from a different location as the 'new' trainers strive to qualify for the final by competing in real races at Limerick, Bellewstown, Killarney and the Curragh. Five of the six will go through to compete for the Leopardstown Cup. 'Stars Go Racing' will bring viewers the passion, excitement and authentically-Irish flavor of horse racing across the country, during the summer season, as six celebrity-led teams battle it out to win the trophy. Previous racing promotions proved hugely popular with top national hunt jockey Barry Geraghty featuring prominently in a production entitled 'Turf Wars' that focused on Jessica Harrington's stable at Moone in Carlow. Another production featured Hector who teamed-up with trainer Pat Flynn to follow his dream of owning a winner. "Only Fools Buy Horses" made compulsive viewing as it followed the exploits of Traverse, a moderate £1,000 purchase at the Newmarket sales in 2002. "Irish people love horse-racing, but rarely get to see behind the scenes. This series will show the hard work and dedication that goes into getting a horse ready for its day at the races," commented Horse Racing Ireland Director of Communications Michael O'Rourke. The other personalities include Linda Martin who will joing trainer David Marnane, weathergirl Jean Byrne who will be with former Kildare footballer Wille McCreery, Munster rugby player Alan Quinlan will join the aforementioned Harrington at her stables in Moone while presenter Ella McSweeney will assist Michael Halford and singer Mike Denver will tune-up with Adrian McGuinness. The overall final will take place at Leopardstown racecourse where the best racing team will lift the trophy.