GER Lyons and Colin Keane teamed up for a 26/1 double highlighted by the impressive debut of Juddmonte homebred juvenile Rising Sign as the home of National Hunt racing opened its gates after a summer break for this eight-race all flat card.

Rising Sign, available at 9/2 in the morning before going off at half those odds, really caught the eye in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with the daughter of Frankel leading about a furlong out and soon taking command to beat Grand Job by an easy four and a half lengths.

“She’s very much a work in progress and can be a bit buzzy. We knew she had that in her but it wasn’t all about today,” said Lyons afterwards.

“We’ll discuss it with Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte racing manager) and see how she comes out of it but there will be no rush back and you might not see her until a trial next year.

“She quickened away and I love how she ran from the winning post to the hill - that was the most impressive part I thought.”

Champion

Keane looks set to become champion jockey for the fifth time this season and moved onto the 70-winner mark, 17 clear of nearest rival Billy Lee, aboard Perfect Poise who was quite easy to back on her seventh start in the Punchestown Flat Is Back Handicap.

The 15/2 chance was ridden to lead at the furlong pole before keeping on well to beat Church Mountain by a length and three quarters.

“We thought she would have won her maiden no problem and I thought that was a nice workmanlike performance.

“She’s hard on herself and you can see a bit of blood in her mouth. She carries her head low going down to the start and kicks herself in the jaw.

“Hopefully there is another day or two in her as that is the first winner we’ve had for Mrs Patino for about a year. I’m delighted as she’s a very loyal owner,” Lyons said.

Dylan’s Star on the rise

DYLAN Browne McMonagle was another rider in double form aboard Ocean Conquest and Star Galaxy.

Ocean Conquest, who showed promise on both previous outings at the Curragh, was prominent throughout here over a mile and the 5/4 favourite kept on strongly in the straight to beat Shamsuddin by a convincing three and a quarter lengths.

“Dylan kept it simple and grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck early. We told him he’d stay and he just went through the gears with him.

“He said he was plenty green when he got there. He’s a work in progress still and is bred to be a next year horse really,” said Michael O’Callaghan who trains the Time Test colt for John Kirkland.

“He has loads of ability and mentally just needs to grow up a bit more. He’s in the Beresford but he’s had three runs and I might bite the bullet and put him away until next year.”

Star Galaxy, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Shapoor Mistry, took advantage of an initial rating of 81 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap with the well-backed 9/2 shot leading over a furlong out and just pushed out to beat Angelic Appeal by a length and a quarter.

“She’s a classy filly and has been running in very competitive maidens all along. Hopefully after getting her head in front she can continue to progress,” said Browne McMonagle who is now just two short of a half-century this term.

FLEETFOOT was all the rage for the Punchestown New Track On Track Race but those who backed him from overnight quotes of 4/1 into 5/4 favourite must have been sweating as Rory Cleary was hard at work early in the straight.

However, the Teofilo colt gamely stuck his head out on the inner finishing strongly to eventually beat Migdam by a length.

Jim Bolger trains the winner for his wife Jackie and Freddy Tylicki, and travelling head lad Ger Flynn commented: “Rory said he hit a bit of a flat spot just before the turn in. The ground is a bit holding and wouldn’t be ideal. We’ve always liked the horse and he’s still learning as that’s just his third run this year.”

Casheldale Lad continued a good recent run for local trainer Andrew Kinirons when causing a 33/1 shock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Fellow newcomer Vera’s Secret looked set to score when asserting over a furlong out but ran green in front and was collared close home by Robbie Colgan’s mount.

“We think a lot of him and Sean (Murphy, part-owner with his cousin Gary) bred him and lives just across the road in Ballymore. We had him last year but he’s big and kept growing. He’s flat-bred but has jumped a hurdle and Robbie rode him in a gallop a few weeks ago and loved him,” said Kinirons before adding: “It’s actually three years ago at this meeting when I trained my first winner. It’s been a very lucky track as I rode my first winner here and also had my first winner as an owner here.”

Fifth winner

Wesley Joyce partnered his fifth winner since returning recently from serious injuries when Final Check (10/3 - 9/4 favourite), owned and bred by Sonia and Anthony Rogers, kept on well inside the final furlong to beat Alfalfa by a comfortable length and a quarter in division one of the Return Of Jumps October 10th & 11th Handicap.

“He’s a good little rider. We always knew she has a little flat spot and I said ride her with loads of confidence as she will come good for you. She’s progressing and it’s her time of the year as I think she’ll appreciate the easy ground,” said trainer John O’Donoghue.

Alfalfa’s connections gained quick compensation in division two where Wrist Art (5/2 favourite) stretched right away inside the final furlong under Wayne Hassett to beat Qaabil by four lengths.

“They are running that little bit above themselves at the moment. Wayne gave him a lovely ride as he did half get a run with him halfway and he got him settled again.

“There might be something in Listowel over a mile and he’ll be there for the autumn when the ground properly changes,” said the in-form Tim Doyle who trains the gelding for his wife Claire.