SADDLING his first runner of the turf campaign, Wendla provided Ger Lyons with the perfect start in the opening Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

The initial part of a double for Lyons and Colin Keane, the Juddmonte-owned bay was sent off an easy-to-back 11/2 chance (7/2 early).

Out of 2005 Breeders’ Cup winner Intercontinental, she was settled behind the leaders in this mile contest and needed to be switched to the outer from the two-furlong pole.

Pushed along to challenge with 200 yards to race, she soon edged to the front and was ridden clear in the closing stages, coming home two and a half lengths to the good.

On what was her debut for Dermot Weld, Harbour Gem was second, while newcomer Fleetingly (10/11 favourite) could only manage a disappointing sixth.

“Colin said to me she’d win if she did what we’ve seen at home,” Lyons commented. “Chris (Hayes on Harbour Gem) was keeping her in and if he’d kept her in and she wasn’t able to get back up you would have accepted it, but it’s nice to just win the maiden and get on with it now.”

Double completed

On his first start since August of 2022, Janoobi (4/1 co-favourite) was a taking winner of the Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap, completing the Lyons/Keane brace. Travelling strongly on the outer approaching the two-furlong pole, the Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons-owned five-year-old soon got to the front.

Ridden clear in the closing stages, the Night Of Thunder chesnut had five-lengths to spare at the line, with the never nearer Ramiro filling the runner-up berth.

“There is a lot of satisfaction in that because he has come back from a massive injury and the team have done a marvellous job,” Lyons reported. “He had a bad fracture in his front leg and it was touch and go with him. It’s a credit to anyone that had anything to do with him.”

TAKE Me To Church (4/1 from 6s) is sure to have connections dreaming of even bigger days ahead, after he impressively routed the opposition in the Irish Racing Writers Cliff Noone Memorial Madrid Handicap.

Successful on his two previous starts at Dundalk, the progressive Jack Davison-trained chestnut soon got to the front under Ronan Whelan and never saw another rival.

Travelling best with over two furlongs to race, he readily increased his advantage when ridden inside the final 200 yards, sprinting clear to register a six-and-a-half length success in the colours of David Byrne & Partners.

“It’s nice when a plan comes off and to bring up the hat-trick by winning the Madrid is a great result,” Davison enthused.

“I’d probably be in favour of having a go at the Gladness at the Curragh all going well. He has lots of options.”

Up in class

A step up in class is also firmly on the agenda for Purple Lily, after she comfortably accounted for four rivals in the TRM Equine Nutrition Race.

A winner on debut at Galway, the €155,000 Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale purchase was well-fancied to follow-up and went off the 10/11 favourite from early shows of 13/8.

After racing in third under Billy Lee, the Calyx bay took closer order from the two-furlong pole and soon came with her challenge on the outer.

Ridden to the front a furlong from home, she quickly increased her lead and was three-lengths clear of the easy-to-back Portland (9/4 from evens early) at the line.

“She’s a nice filly and wintered well. We just gave her the one run after the breeze-up and she was good,” Twomey said of the Zinlo Syndicate-owned victor.

“We might look at a Guineas trial and then the Irish Guineas. Newmarket might come a bit quick.”

SUNCHART ended a lengthy losing streak in style, as he deservedly bagged a listed prize in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes.

Second no less than nine times since winning his maiden at Tipperary in October 2019, the Andy Slattery-trained seven-year-old came in for some market support and went off a 5/1 chance (in from 8s) under Slattery’s son and namesake.

Settled behind the leaders, the Pat Garvey-owned bay travelled strongly from early in the straight and swept to the front with over two furlongs to race.

Soon pressed by Knight To King (9/4 favourite), he readily surged clear of that rival when ridden and had six and a half lengths to spare crossing the line.

“The horse deserved it more than any of us and Pat has had great perseverance with him,” the winning trainer remarked.

“He likes this track, going left-handed and soft ground. He always had the ability and was second in this race last year.”

Master Garvey (3/1) was another recording an overdue success, as he made the breakthrough on his 21st start in the concluding NSL Investments Handicap.

To the front

A fine third at the Curragh the previous Monday, the Joe Murray-trained four-year-old was never too far from the pace under Robert Whearty and got to the front with two furlongs left to go.

Soon ridden clear, the Patrick Sheridan and John Lynch-owned victor saw his advantage rapidly reduced by Spring Collection (50/1) inside the final furlong, with just a head separating them at the line.

“He was third at the Curragh and it brought him on. He likes that ground, so we were hopeful today,” Lisa Murray, wife of the winning handler, revealed.

Dark Viper (2/1 favourite) was a place ahead of Master Garvey at the Curragh and the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding again had to settle for the runner-up berth in the King Of Change At Compas Stallions Handicap.

Surprise

Naisiun (20/1), for Jim and Jackie Bolger, sprang a surprise in this nine-runner affair, as she finished with a flourish under Rory Cleary, hitting the front inside the final 100 yards before going on to score with ears pricked by a length and three-quarters. There was a further length and a half back to Sylkie, with this one the subject of strong market support, going off a 4/1 chance from 16s early.