GER Lyons and Colin Keane recorded a treble at Fairyhouse on Thursday evening. The champion jockey and his principal employer won three races in succession.

Alto Sax was the first to strike when battling on well to take the Return Of The Flat Claiming Race. Owned by David Spratt, the 9/4 joint-favourite saw off fellow market leader Signor Ferrari by half a length.

Ger Lyons said: “He’s just learning on the job and he’s going to mature. His future is in front of him and he’s put in at a claiming price but since the McAuleys have stopped claiming, we’re in a bit of no man’s land!

Good night

“He gets the trip and he should do a nice summer hurdling job for somebody. As Colin said, in his own grade he’s a grand horse.” The winner was subsequently claimed by Bernadette Leigh, to be trained by Peter Fahey.

Vivienda was the second leg of the treble when making a winning start to life in handicap company in the Book Your Hospitality @fairyhouse.ie Handicap.

Carrying the colours of Juddmonte, the 7/1 chance stayed on well inside the final furlong to win by half a length.

“She’s a lovely honest filly and whatever she has she gives,” said Lyons. “She’s a work in progress, she’s light and she’s only going to start thriving now with the weather. I’d say she’ll have a date in the July sales so we’ll run her up to that point.”

National Lady completed a good night for Lyons and Keane when justifying even-money favouritism in the End Of School Year Maiden. The Mark Dobbin-owned filly led over two furlongs out, asserting close home to win by three lengths.

“It’s been a great night’s work. I’m absolutely delighted,” said Lyons. “She did that well and well done to the lads. Kerri bought her for Mark Dobbin and I’m delighted for him as he’s become a big supporter of the yard.

“He’s got horses with Joseph (O’Brien) and Johnny (Murtagh) and myself and he deserves a lot of luck because he’s putting plenty in.

“Obviously we’ll start thinking about blacktype but she’s a long way off that at the minute. She shows me nothing at home though so it’s hard to read.”

Lee lands a double

BILLY Lee registered a double on the card, the first coming aboard Barnso in the Fairyhouse Chill & Grill Handicap.

Trained by Natalia Lupini, the well-backed 13/2 chance kept on well from over a furlong out to win by half a length.

Lupini later said of the MBC Partnership-owned gelding: “He’s been working well at home. Wayne (Lordan) liked him when he rode him in Naas and thought he’d need a step up in trip. We found this race for him, a three-year-old only and they are a bit hard to find. Everything suited him today.

“His form as a two-year-old was good enough and he was probably going to be competitive in this handicap today. We were thinking he could maybe take another step up in trip and maybe he could go for the Ulster Derby although we have him in the July sales as well. We’re going to chat to the other owners.”

The Paul Flynn-trained Rappell brought up the brace for Lee when successful in the Friday Fairynights 7th June Handicap.

Sent off 7/2, the Patrick McGuire and Neal Flynn-owned gelding led over a furlong out before easing to a two-and-three-quarter length win.

Flynn said: “I’m delighted with him. I thought the market got it a bit wrong but I fancy everything anyway! Both of us (favourite Layoftheland) were slow away in Navan and it was our first handicap and he was green and ran really well.

“I think he’s a grand horse, the mother was very good – a quick mare. I have to thank Roger O’Callaghan who looked after him when he had the horse, thanks to him and Tally-Ho for helping us out with him. My brother (Neal) owns this lad with Paddy (McGuire), my vet, so it’s great.

“My brother is on holiday so that’s why the price stayed so big. We wondered who robbed it the last day! The reason I entered him (at the Curragh next Wednesday) was because there weren’t too many options. I don’t like running them quickly too often but I suppose sprinting is a bit easier.”

AMY Jo Hayes won the opening House Restaurant Apprentice Handicap on Moonlit Mist for David Harry Kelly. Carrying the colours of Eoin Ryan, the 22/1 chance was having her first run for the stable.

Leading over a furlong out, the filly got the better of a duel with Lady Christa by half a length. “It was her first run for Dad (Tom) and my boyfriend (Eoin Ryan). The owner couldn’t be here today as he’s at silage so the rest of them had to come along and support me,” said Hayes. “It was big for me. We were looking for a cheapish filly and Dad said we’d breed off her if she didn’t do much and that she’d give me a few spins. They went hard early on, she usually sits forward but I kept her back off the pace. Four out she was under a bit of pressure but as soon as I went to kick for home she picked it up and stayed at it well. She was a bit lazy going to the start and I thought maybe a bit of headgear wouldn’t go astray but she did it well. Hopefully I can kick on and get as many rides and winners as I can.”

Amanirenas won the See You Next Friday Handicap for Michael Grassick and Danny Sheehy. The 12/1 chance led over a furlong out, keeping on to prevail by half a length. Grassick said of the NC Past Pupils Syndicate-owned winner: “I was a little bit worried about the trip, it might be a bit short. Every time I step her up in class she just gets found out. When she wins, she wins impressively. This is a Newbridge College syndicate for past pupils. They’ve leased her and it’s their first winner.”