THERE has hardly been a more deserving pattern race winner all season than Jamesie who finally got his day in the sun with a hard fought success over the globe-trotting Gordon Lord Byron in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes.

A winner of a valuable handicap in Dubai earlier in the year, Jamesie has been performing with credit since his return to domestic action and had notched up a sequence of placings at group and listed level.

The most recent of these came when he took second in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes earlier this month and, on this occasion, everything fell into place for the David Marnane stalwart.

Without a win in Ireland for over three years, the Damien Lavelle-owned winner was kept close to the pace by Colm O’Donoghue and held every chance from well over a furlong out.

Just as Jamesie mastered the English raider Hamza, the oncoming Gordon Lord Byron burst through to challenge and it looked as if the latter might have done enough nearing the line. A resilient Jamesie refused to yield though and the bobbing finish went his way by a nose.

“He was due a good one. He’s tough and consistent and always runs his race,” said O’Donoghue. “There wasn’t much pace so I kept him closer to the pace than usual and it suited him as he was able to build into the race.

“Joseph (O’Brien) came at me well and I actually thought he’d beaten me but it’s great this horse has won and his owners are great supporters of David’s yard.”

Meanwhile Tom Hogan expressed himself very happy with the display of Gordon Lord Byron who was running for the first time since an unplaced effort in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” stated Hogan. “He had to give weight all round and he was very rusty and I’d expect him to improve a good bit from this. He’s just starting to come together and if all goes well the plan would be for him to head back to Haydock (Sprint Cup) in a few weeks’ time.”

Ainippe, who looked the part when making a winning debut at Naas in July, confirmed that initial promise with a stylish victory in the Listed The Irish Field Curragh Stakes.

On her first start in the Qatar Racing silks, the daughter of Captain Rio looked on from second for Colin Keane as Simply A Star cut out a strong pace over this five furlongs.

Ainippe (2/1) wasted no time taking control when going to the front with a furlong to run and she quickened into a good lead that saw her finish a length ahead of the running on The Great War.

“The speed figure from her win at Naas was very, very fast and I was dubious but the form of that race has worked out well,” commented Lyons.

“She needed to be impressive today to warrant a supplementary entry for the Cheveley Park and that is very much on the cards but she’ll have to take on at least two of the first three from the Lowther there. Another option is the Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr but I’ll talk to the boss first.”

Earlier Aidan O’Brien took the wraps off a filly of real potential in Found (14/1) who made a striking start to her career in the one mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

In a sedately run contest, the daughter of Galileo and Red Evie was settled towards the rear of the field by Seamus Heffernan but with imperceptible effort she scythed through the pack to make her bid heading into the last furlong.

Found never came under any semblance of pressure to defeat stablemate Together Forever and she will surely hold her own at a much higher level this autumn.

“They didn’t go much pace and sprinted and she shouldn’t have been able to win the way she did without being a good filly,” reported the Ballydoyle trainer.

There was another nice juvenile on show in the six furlongs Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden where Joe Murphy’s Group 1 entrant Shepherd’s Purse ran out a decisive winner. The Pastoral Pursuits colt, who carries the colours of Tom Egan, was allowed to go off at 20/1 and was forced to make his challenge widest of all.

However, he quickly took charge of the race when getting into contention with over a furlong to run and he had a comfortable two and a half lengths to spare over the staying on newcomer Clutchingatstraws. The odds-on General Marshall had to settle for third.

“I thought that he might need his first run but we’ve always liked the horse and he’s entered in the Racing Post Trophy,” commented Murphy.

“Gary just felt he idled a bit in front and going further will be no problem to him and he could step up to seven furlongs next time and then we’ll look at the Racing Post Trophy for him.”

The Galway Festival winner Hasanour served notice that he will be a danger to all in tomorrow’s Irish Cambridgeshire with a smooth win in the mile handicap.

As the runners entered the last quarter of a mile, the 7/2 favourite looked to have his rivals covered and when asked to assert by Shane Foley he responded well to go clear. Throughout the last furlong the Giant’s Causeway gelding kept his rivals at bay and he finished two and a half lengths clear of Beau Satchel.

“They went a good gallop there which made it a test and he enjoyed it,” declared Halford, who trains the winner for Richard McNally. “He’s a well-bred horse and an improving sort who is just finding his way and this is a good trip for him.”

For the second year in succession Eddie Lynam and Robbie Downey captured the Fleetwood Paints Apprentice Handicap as Doc Holliday returned to form.

Downey, who rode out his 7lb claim with this success, produced the Aileen Lynam-owned gelding to lead inside the distance and the 12/1 chance defeated The Dancing Lord by a length and three quarters.

“I’m delighted for Robbie. He’s a good kid and works very hard. This has been a lucky race for us,” reflected Lynam.

Breathe Easy (7/2) has developed quite an affinity for the Curragh this season and he notched up his third course triumph in the 60-90 rated handicap over a mile and a quarter.

Breathe Easy got a typically well-judged front-running ride from Pat Smullen and responded gamely to pressure over the last furlong and a half to withstand the oncoming Shalaman (a winner at Killarney three day previously) by a head.

The Everina Kilfeather-owned gelding was continuing a memorable 2014 at the Curragh for trainer Sabrina Harty.

Whip ban: Ronan Whelan picked up a two day whip ban for his efforts on Focussed who finished fourth in the handicap won by Hasanour.

Slow to start: Declan McDonogh reported that Maarek reared leaving the stalls in the Renaissance Stakes where last year’s Prix de l’Abbaye winner had to settle for eighth behind Jamesie.