Dylan Browne McMonagle takes impressive group 1 win at The Curragh

Dylan Browne McMonagle won the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, a group 1 race, at the Curragh on Sunday as part of the Irish Champions Festival.

The Letterkenny jockey took the 12/1 Scorthy Champ to a surprise victory for Joseph O'Brien.

Scorthy Champ is a third winner in five renewals for the Carriganóg Racing conditioner, who is establishing a bit of a stranglehold on the seven-furlong juvenile contest.

“He’s a very talented horse,” said Browne McMonagle of Scorthy Champ, who is owned by Rectory Road Holdings, Barry Fowler and the trainer’s mother, Annmarie O’Brien.

“He’s still learning. He’s still a big bay. He jumped good today. I knew he’d stay well. He went through the gears nicely from half-way and he was good and tough in the last furlong and got to the line strong.

“He’s going to have no problem getting further. He’s very talented. He relaxes good and he’s got a really good temperament and he’s not slow at the back-end of it.”

On Saturday, Browne-McMonagle won the group 3 Tonybet ‘We’re Here To Play’ Stakes on Trustyourinstinct, also prepared by O'Brien.

It was through a measured piece of navigation by Browne McMonagle that Trustyourinstinct took the win.

“I think we’ll enjoy the flat with him for the rest of the season and it’s great to get a good pot this week and it was a great ride by Dylan as well,” trainer O'Brien said after his 3/1 favourite came out on top.

“His last two runs, he’s been beaten by two Leger winners,” O'Brien said.

“We weren’t sure about the mile-and-a-half trip. His best runs to date had been at ten but he really got the trip well and he deserves a big win. I’m delighted to get a big win for JP as well.

“He qualifies for a lot of big pots around the world as we head into the autumn so he could potentially end up in a race internationally but we’ll enjoy today and see how he pulls up.”