ALYSE Clarke, from Kentstown, Co Meath, partnered her first winner aboard The Bog Bank in the Peadar Kearney´s Pub Apprentice Handicap.

Course-specialist The Bog Bank (11/2) led from the stalls, but was headed by Ten To Ten after two furlongs. She worked her way back to the front a furlong and a half down and kept on well over the road crossing to come in by three lengths.

Clarke said: “It feels amazing! I’d like to thank Tom (McCourt, trainer) and the owners (Hugh O’Brien, Loughlin Flynn and J.B. Tolan) for the ride.

“I’ve wanted to be a jockey since I was seven or eight. I’ve just finished school, so I’m just starting to ride out most mornings.”

McCourt added: “She’s apprenticed to me and had a few spins in the winter at Dundalk for experience. She did everything perfectly.”

“She has just finished her Leaving Certificate. I think she is taking a year out (from college) to give it a year with me to see how the racing goes.”

Meade double

Noel Meade and Colin Keane combined for a double with a pair of favourites. Sugar Club (11/10 favourite) disputed the lead in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden and went on before halfway.

Keane sent her about her business running into the final furlong and they opened up by three lengths for owner Liam Queally.

Meade said: “She’s a nice filly and we like her a lot. She had an inside draw and he (Keane) just said he would keep it simple. She’s a lovely filly and I would think she has a future.”

It was a similar story with Lethimfly (10/11 favourite) in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over the extended five furlongs.

Keane sent him into an early lead and the duo asserted at the furlong pole. They were far from troubled in putting two and a half lengths on runner-up Sharkii.

Meade said of the Harcourt Racing Syndicate-owned colt: “Colin jumped down off him the other day and said ‘he’s quick’, so he was keen to ride him.

“A stakes horse came out of the race he was sixth in at Navan, and two stakes horses were in the race he was fourth in at Cork.”

WESLEY Joyce was also in double-winning form courtesy of Rathbranchurch and Futurum Regem.

Rathbranchurch doubled his career total when he produced a rattling finish in the Indaver Ireland Handicap over an extended five furlongs.

The 4/1 shot got the better of Air Force One in the final 50 yards to win by half a length for Finnbar Dardis.

Trainer Michael Mulvany said: “He’s a very consistent little horse. That’s only his second win, but he has been placed 10 times. The last day he was a close fifth in Down Royal and it was more the draw that beat him.”

Powered home

Joyce’s brace came up on Futurum Regem (14/1) in the second division of the Smiths Of Drogheda Ford Classic Handicap.

Once Joyce steered him to the front with more than three furlongs to travel, the result was barely in doubt.

The eight-year-old gelding powered home by three and a quarter lengths for owner/trainer Hugh Finegan and joint-owner Morgan Ryan.

This was Futurum Regem’s first victory on the flat and it has been a long time between drinks as he was last seen in the winner’s enclosure in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Navan in December 2021.

Viyanni relished a step up in trip, on handicap debut, in the opening division of the Smiths Of Drogheda Ford Classic Handicap.

Johnny Murtagh’s charge raced in third for much of the way and came with a challenge over a furlong out.

He grabbed a narrow lead at the furlong pole and strode away by four lengths at 5/1.

Ben Coen, in the Aga Khan silks, said: “He ran okay in his maidens and he did it well first time in a handicap today. He galloped right out to the line.

“The step up in trip definitely helped. I know that was a mile and six, but I wouldn’t be afraid to go two miles.”

Eagle’s Way takes flight

EAGLE’S Way looked a useful acquisition for William Durkan when he enjoyed a comfortable success in the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker, Crockafotha (Q.R.) Race over an extended mile and a half.

Dara McGill’s mount made progress three furlongs out and produced his challenge at the two pole. He hit the front a furlong and a half out and ran on by a length and three-parts for the Four D Partnership. He was backed down from 4/1 to 5/2.

Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: “He ran in Goodwood last year and was sent off favourite that day for a very good race and the ground went on him. I might target there with him before going back over hurdles.

“He was runner-up in a 100 grand handicap in the Racing League and we might target there or he might go for the GPT (at Galway).”

McGill picked up a two-day ban for frequency with the whip while Finny Maguire on third-placed Enniskerry was suspended for two days for riding carelessly. Kevin Prendergast and Gary Halpin teamed up for a winner with Copie Conforme in the Champion Lettings Handicap.

The 14/1 chance tracked the leaders and moved into a threatening position two furlongs out. She disputed with a furlong to go and took over in the final 150 yards. She kept on well to close the race out by a length and a quarter.

Halpin said: “She did it well, she settled well and the drop back in trip suited her well. It is great to ride a winner for the boss in these colours, the late Lady O’Reilly’s colours.”