ERIC McNamara maintained his scintillating form with a double at Down Royal courtesy of Future Cutlet and Londonofficecallin.
Future Cutlet went off at 9/4 for the Madri Exceptional Maiden over an extended seven furlongs and came with a strong run to lead just inside the final furlong.
Billy Lee’s mount was soon pressed by a rallying Sweet Thing, however, he found most close home to win by half a length in the colours of the trainer’s daughter Kate McNamara.
Lee said: “I was going to try and sit second or third and he was a fraction slow away, so I had to just take my medicine a small bit and ride a waiting race. I was able to follow Dylan (Browne McMonagle on Winsome) throughout the race, he took me into it well.
“I thought he won well within himself, I just had to make him work the last furlong just to get him there.
“He feels like he would get a mile and there is definitely more to come. He’s probably a horse that will get further in time as well.”
Lordan answers London’s call
Wayne Lordan got the leg up for the first time on Londonofficecallin (11/2) in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap.
The pair tracked throughout and made headway to lead over a quarter of a mile out. They were in no mood to relent in the closing stages as they powered home by two and three-quarter lengths.
The trainer’s son, Conor McNamara, said: “A lot of the owners (In Bounds Syndicate) are from near enough Down Royal or the vicinity - lovely lads.
“He does have an engine and he stays. He’s a horse that tries very hard in his races, so you just have to be careful with him.
“He is a horse that we will try and get out on the flat once or twice more before the season ends.”
JOSEPH O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle were also at the double on the card with the winning run initiated by State Of Joy in the Irish EBF Auction Series Filles Maiden over the extended seven-furlongs.
She made headway out wide and came with her challenge inside the final furlong. Both her and Reponse Finale had the spoils between them as they were locked together in the closing stages.
A photograph had to separate them with State Of Joy getting the verdict by a short-head at 9/2 for Syndicates Racing.
Stable representative Sean Corby said: “She came on a lot from her first run. She’s a big filly and the run just brought her forward.
“She handled the ease in the ground today. That might have just helped her a bit.”
Little Lady steps up
Little Lady Lucy (5/2 favourite) forged on well for Browne McMonagle in the Pravha Handicap over an extended 10-furlongs.
From second halfway, she progressed to dispute the lead with Barretstown entering straight. She worked her way to the front racing to the final furlong and increased the gap to two and a quarter lengths at the winning post for Dalton and Digger.
Corby said: “She had a nice run the last day on her first run in a handicap (third at Tipperary). I’d say the little bit further here and more of a galloping track suited her.
“She went through the ground well. Now that she has gone through it, hopefully she might be able to win another race before the end of the year.”
JESSICA Harrington’s Billie Be Quick got off the mark at the seventh time of asking in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Nursery Handicap over the flying five furlongs.
Shane Foley pushed her along in fourth over a furlong from home and she improved to second racing into the final 100 yards.
She got her head in front in the closing stages and swept in by a length and a quarter to justify 9/4 favouritism for owner Sebastian R.T. Curran.
Foley said: “She had been backing off a little bit, so I just decided to make up her mind the last day and I think it might have crowned her. She had a good, hard race the last day - she could have gone one way or the other, and she stepped forward.”
Belardo breaks his duck
Alex Belardo made the breakthrough in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap.
The three-year-old tracked the leaders and made progress for Donagh O’Connor to lead a furlong down. He was resolute in the final furlong to come in by a length and three parts at 7/1 for Rockview Stables.
John McConnell said: “I think we deserved it as much as he deserved it because he is a little bit tricky, but he put his best foot forward today. He put his head down when he needed to.
“Great to get the first win with him and I think there might be more with him next year. He’s just a little bit of a baby.”
Patrick McGettigan partnered the second winner of his career when the Johnny Murtagh-trained Sevensees (9/4) proved too strong for the opposition in the Coors Handicap.
McGettigan steered him to the front with more than a furlong to negotiate and the four-year-old gelding knuckled down to his task to prevail by a length and a quarter for the Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate.
The jockey said: “I don’t have my licence too long, so it is great to get on good horses like these. Make all and hopefully don’t get caught, keep him up against the rail. He relishes that soft ground.”