MANACCAN kept on best to take Dundalk’s featured Group 3 Al Basti Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes across the Irish Sea for trainer John Ryan.

With Paddy Twomey’s Erosandpsyche ruled out, Manaccan went off a popular even-money favourite under Stevie Donohoe and relished his first crack at Polytrack.

The 109-rated colt tracked the leaders in this five-furlong dash and made headway by the final furlong, before running on well to collar Logo Hunter close home to score by half a length for Newsells Park Stud - Ossie Ardiles Synd.

Ryan said: “We knew that these guys weren’t going to leave us alone, they were going to make us have it and they did. If you have got a horse that good, they need to prove it. I think we might have something very special for next year.”

Billy Lee rode two winners on the card for James McAuley to move ahead of Colin Keane in a pulsating battle for the jockeys’ title (86-85).

First up was 14/1 shot Tai Sing Yeh who overcame stall 16 in the first division of the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap over six furlongs.

The eight-year-old gelding was always in the front rank and stayed on well down the stands’ side once leading a furlong out. He came in by three-parts of a length for the owner/trainer.

McAuley said: “Billy gave him a great ride – to cut the corner the way he did and even coming up this side (stands’ side). I’ve never seen so many horses coming up this side. It definitely doesn’t seem to be a disadvantage.

“I’m delighted to get that and that equals last year’s tally, we got 20 last year.”

Lee and McAuley then doubled up through Beleaguerment in the second split of the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap.

The well-supported 11/2 chance stayed on to get his head in front close home. He then fended off the 9/2 favourite Company Keeping by a neck.

Owner/trainer McAuley said: “We ran him over five (in Bellewstown) specifically to sharpen him up. His whole demeanour has changed in the last couple of weeks.”

In a blow to Lee’s title challenge, the stewards deemed that he used his whip with excessive frequency and handed him a six-day ban.

Powell continues his rapid progress

JAMIE Powell saw his claim cut from 7lb to 5lb after making all on Wakai Umi (5/1) from stall one in the William Hill Play Responsibly Nursery Handicap over five furlongs.

She powered clear a furlong out and won well by two and a half lengths for Ballymullen Stud Farm.

“There’s no question she is going to improve. She’s an out-and-out five-furlong filly. We were hoping she would like the surface here and she did. He (handicapper) dropped her 1lb so we felt coming here with the 7lb off (Powell’s claim) we were in a good place,” said trainer Ciaran Murphy.

Pretty Smart (14/1) brought up the seventh victory of her career in the William Hill Bet Boost (Fillies) Claiming Race, however, this was her first over seven furlongs.

When the 13/8 favourite Eglish narrowly headed her in the final furlong, the writing looked to be on the wall but Pat Martin’s six-year-old mare rallied gamely to get back up by a neck.

Winning jockey Mikey Sheehy, in Joan Brennan colours, said: “In fairness to her, she stuck at it well. She’s a hardy bit of stuff and she’s a tricky little customer but, when she wants it, she’s not too bad. On her going day, she is well able.”

Adrian Sexton’s Bears Hug posted the same winning margin of a neck in the William Hill Pick Places Apprentice Handicap after making virtually all under Scott McCullagh.

The Kodi Bear gelding was strongly pressed by Cedar Rapids inside the final furlong, but held on at 17/2 for Declan and David Ryan.

McCullagh said: “He’s horse that runs better fresh. He has strengthened up since the last time I rode him. I got a freebie in front and he likes having a bit of room. He went through the motions lovely, quickened up and put his head down and he wanted to win, which is a help.”

McCullagh was suspended for two days for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Londoner cuts quite a dash

AIDAN O’Brien’s Londoner put in a lovely performance to get off the mark on his second start in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over a mile.

The result wasn’t in question once he moved to the front a furlong and a half down. Seamus Heffernan soon rode him clear and the duo came in by four lengths, from stablemate Cape Bridgewater, for Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said of the 2/1 favourite: “He’ll be a nice horse for next year and will probably start off at a mile and a quarter. He is by the right sire, Saxon Warrior, who is having winners every day.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Fawkner Park (11/8) was an easy winner of the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Maiden over the extended mile and a quarter.

Again, he led a furlong and a half out and soon put the race away by staying on strongly.

After he passed the post six and a half lengths clear, assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “I think he is off to the Sales next week, so I suppose that is up to Joseph and to Lloyd and Nick Williams (Lloyd J Williams Syndicate). He has learned from his first two runs.