'These Wootton Bassetts are unbelievable' - Aidan O'Brien with another smart filly as Whirl leaves stablemates in a spin

Aidan and Joseph O'Brien came mob-handed and reaped the rewards for doing so as between them they saddled the first six home in the feature Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes.

Ballydoyle gained the major honours here but not in the order expected by the market, as the odds-on favourite Giselle had her balloon pricked somewhat by her stable companion Whirl under Wayne Lordan.

The daughter of Wootton Bassett was game with the inside rail to help her as she held off multiple challengers to score by half a length from Joseph O'Brien's pair And So To Bed and Celtic Motif.

The latter was demoted to fourth place behind Giselle by the stewards having carried the favourite left inside the last furlong. Completing the Ballydoyle domination of the race were the strong-finishing Island Hopping in fifth under Ronan Whelan and sixth-placed Mint Candy, ridden by Gavin Ryan.

Of Whirl, O'Brien said: "She just had that bit more experience and she got a lovely ride from Wayne. He went his pace and he was left alone to do it, and she was tough. She is another massive filly, these Wootton Bassetts are unbelievable – and they're just getting better.

"Ryan's filly [Giselle] was a bit babyish and still a bit green. He tried to teach her, which was the right thing to do. He was delighted with her. He felt that she isn't there yet. She got there and got a little bit tired.

"She had a big hold up in the middle of the season and I ran her because I wanted to get Ryan over to sit on her again and he was very happy with her. The experience will do her a world of good when it comes to next year. She's a very good filly."

He added: "Ronan said he thought Island Hopping came home very well. She will get a mile and a quarter easily and she should be a Group filly for next year."

So smooth for Tom

The amateur riders' Derby looked a race of interest, with Paddy Smullen having his first ride in a proper race and the return to action after almost three years of the 2021 Irish St Leger winner Sonnyboyliston.

The race went to the versatile Smooth Tom, twice a winner over hurdles in the last 12 months as well as finishing second in the Irish Lincoln over a mile and in a Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary earlier this month.

He stayed on strongly under Adam Ryan to get the best of a good battle with runner-up Ascending as they pulled clear of last year's winner Helvic Dream. Sonnyboyliston finished a respectable sixth, while Paddy Smullen was a place further back on Grappa Nonino.

Winning trainer Andy Slattery said: "He's a very versatile horse and I would say he'll stay further. I forgot to enter him in the Irish Cesarewitch and I think it would have suited him. We'll probably go for the Grade 3 hurdle at Down Royal a week on Friday. He likes small fields and he can pick up some more prize-money."

Good day for Fahey

Jarlath Fahey sent runners for the two divisions of the 1m2f handicap from his local base near Monasterevin and won both of them. The Dylan Browne McMonagle-ridden Nans View landed division one, while the second leg went to Barrogstown Girl under Neve Bennett.

First for Burns

Pony racing graduate Nicola Burns rode her first winner when scoring in the closing 7f handicap on Genuine Jim for her father Robbie.

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