IT was a day of doubles at sunny Down Royal where the eight-race flat card resulted in two winners apiece for riders Ronan Whelan, Billy Lee and Wesley Joyce, while in-form trainer Jack Davison also got in on the act.
Whelan got the fractions right on front-running Happy Jacky (11/4 favourite) who showed his mettle over the extended two miles, two-furlong trip in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch.
The smart staying hurdler faced a stern challenge from Charlie Darling approaching the final furlong but dug deep to score by a neck
Mark Fahey, who trains the winner for Paddy Ryan, said: “He has proven stamina and Ronnie gave him a brilliant ride.
“I haven’t come across a horse as tough as him. He is running over all these marathon trips the whole time and you can’t believe how well he bounces out of it.”
The winner was dismounted on track and Fahey added: “He suffers a little bit from heat stress. As soon as he finishes, we get water onto him straight away and he bounces out in 15 minutes. He’s grand.”
Handicap debut
Whelan’s had earlier struck on the Ado McGuinness-trained Sir Jeremy (13/2) who made a taking handicap debut in the second division of the Grant Thornton Nursery.
Unplaced in three good-class maidens, the Decorated Knight gelding, owned by Ciara and Clodagh Morris, led at the two-furlong pole and stormed clear to win by five and a half lengths from Zaraahmando.
Whelan commented: “He is a tall, leggy horse and you’d imagine anything he does now is going to be a bonus. It wasn’t the strongest race ever run but I think that bodes well for the future.”
Davison’s Lightning off to quick strike
JACK Davison and Wesley Joyce combined to land the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden with Lightning Bear (7/1).
The Kuroshio gelding, related to the stable’s winning sprinters Scorchio and Thunderbear, had shown promise when third at Cork last month and led a furlong out to account for market leader Oxford Rock by a length and three-quarters.
Davison said: “I thought he was overpriced and I was sure he would come forward significantly from his first run - more so than most of ours usually would.
“He’s a homebred as well - I actually bought him directly from my father at Goffs Book 2 for five grand, minimum bid, and here we are. He has won a 50 grand bonus and a bit of prize money.
“It is the inception of the (Jack Davison) Racing Club and we have got the dream result.”
Odds-on win
Davison completed his brace when Betsen landed odds of 4/6 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under a confident Billy Lee.
The 95-rated gelding travelled powerfully behind the leaders before being shaken up inside the final furlong to beat Mint Man by a length and a quarter.
The trainer said of the Quality Time Racing Syndicate’s winner: “He’s such a strong-travelling horse - he’s sort of my version of Harchibald, I suppose!
“He has a lot of ability and I’d say he would be seen to best effect over six furlongs on a little bit kinder ground.
“I have him in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh at the end of the month.”
Lee doubled up on Saint Brandon (4/1 favourite) in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.
Handy throughout, the Craig Bryson-owned son of Saxon Warrior headed Red Scarlet just inside the furlong pole to score by half a length.
Winning trainer Natalia Lupini said: “This horse ran well in Galway and also put up a nice performance in Naas the last time over six furlongs. Billy said that run sharpened him up a bit.
“I think our next option would be the final of the series in Naas over seven furlongs and he wouldn’t mind a cut in the ground.”
Enquire has the answers for Hand
WESLEY Joyce brought up his double in a thrilling Grant Thornton Handicap when galvanising Enquire Within (4/1) with a late burst which saw her get up on the line.
The Finbarr Hand-trained eight-year-old looked held in fourth at the furlong pole before a gap opened between outsider Ballinahulla and market leader Red Secret, and Joyce drove her through it to touch off the former by a short-head.
The Limerick man wore a black armband and Hand, who was leading up, explained: “It is a poignant winner as the owner Maura McGuinness’ mother died recently.
“She was in real big trouble the whole way down the hill, but Wesley got her out. She’s consistent and the most beautiful mare to train - an absolute legend!”
Sixth for Robyn
Robyn Donaghue-Leahy recorded her sixth win of the season when the Terence O’Brien-trained Bright N Shine (6/1) claimed the Children’s Heartbeat Trust Apprentice Handicap.
A winner on the all-weather last year, Jonathan and Jason O’Callaghan’s Fulbright gelding was driven to the front inside the final furlong and scored by a length and a half from Tartaraghan.
“He’s very versatile trip-wise and good ground is the key to him,” said the winning rider.
“I rode out for Terence in my first job, I was there for five or six years.
“He taught me plenty when there was a lot to learn, so I can’t thank him enough.”
Party time
Caught close home when second on handicap debut at Killarney last month, The Marty Party (3/1) went one better in the first division of the Grant Thornton Nursery.
The Starspangledbanner colt came from mid-division under Dylan Browne McMonagle to head Midnight Stagger in the closing stages for a half-length verdict.
GAA commentator Marty Morrissey, part of the Marty Party Syndicate, had been present at Killarney but was not in attendance on this occasion.
Sean Corby, representing winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, said: “Dylan planned to be a lot handier but he ended up missing the kick and did well to win from there.”