GARY Carroll continued his good run this season when partnering a 19/1 double aboard Fratas and Vera Verto - leaving him just one behind Billy Lee (28-27) in the jockeys’ championship.

Fratas (4/1) was a popular order in the Bay Leaf Handicap, featuring prominently throughout in this extended nine-furlong event and showing a good attitude inside the final furlong to beat Portreath by half a length.

“She missed the break the last couple of times and we had to do a lot of practising to get that right,” said Mick Mulvany, who trains the filly for Raymond McMahon. “All she does really is gallop and stay.”

Carroll was seen to great effect on Vera Verto in the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. The Prince Of Lir mare made most and quickened decisively off the home bend to beat Pachmena by a length and a half.

“I always thought she wanted softer ground but that is probably ideal for her on the easy side of good. Gary gave her a lovely ride,” said Gavin Cromwell of the From The Clouds Partnership-owned 3/1 favourite.

“We will probably keep her on the flat for the moment and might have a look to see if there is something for her at Galway. We gave her a couple of runs over fences but she jumps a bit too careful.”

Cromwell brace

Cromwell was also completing a double as the Dermot Kilmartin-owned Bedelia caused a 20/1 surprise in the opening Linden Bloodstock Apprentice Claiming Race.

The daughter of Profitable hadn’t shown much since second in a Dundalk nursery last November but the reapplying of blinkers proved successful as she challenged off the home bend and got on top for Conor Stone-Walsh in the final 100 yards to beat Western Cape by a length.

“She has ability but tended to down tools when they came around her,” said the Danestown trainer.

“She reared coming out of stalls today and he kept her wide in a small field with loads of room. She enjoyed passing them and finished out her race well.”

The winner was later claimed for €4,000 to be trained by Shark Hanlon, Cromwell held onto fifth-placed Cyber Attack for €15,000 despite a total of 39 claims being submitted for the well-bred daughter of Saxon Warrior, while third-placed Lady Pro joined Keith Watson for €10,000.

THE biggest shock of the evening came in the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap when 50/1 chance Longclaw was prominent throughout under Gavin Ryan and kept on well to beat 100/1 shot Summer Fly by two and a half lengths.

The John Grennan-owned gelding was a useful flat two-year-old and juvenile hurdler for Gordon Elliott, winning three times, but had failed to add to that tally for a list of different trainers since and was having just his second run for Castlecomer-based Pat Murphy.

“He was second three times before Christmas and then disappointed and we were still figuring him out,” said the winning trainer. “These older geldings sometimes get their own ideas but he was true and honest today. We’ll see what the handicapper does and we might go back over hurdles with him.”

Munir and Souede strike

The familiar ‘double green’ colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede were carried to success by Green Sky (4/1 to 11/4) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly didn’t enjoy much luck in running on debut at Gowran Park but put that experience to good use here, quickening up inside the final furlong to get the better of The First And Last by half a length.

“She had a rough enough run around the first day and is after sharpening up plenty,” said winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle.

“She was straightforward today, travelled everywhere and was always the winner. She will get a bit further no doubt and hopefully can keep improving.”

LIZZY’S Filly took the other maiden on the card, the Lodge At Ashford Castle Maiden. The 6/4 favourite, having her first start since returning to trainer Pat Martin, was never too far from the pace and got on top in the closing stages for Colin Keane to beat Expound by half a length.

“I have her about two months. The owner [Oliver Toner] said to me he was going to be down here for this meeting and would we be able to get her ready - I thought no but I said we’d try,” said Martin.

“She did her first bit of work about a fortnight ago and was a little bit undercooked tonight but that might be the best way to have her as she’s quite hot. It was the ride of a champion by Colin. This is the second winner we’ve had for the owner and she’s named after his wife Liz.”

Redstone shines

Favourite backers also collected in the Treacy’s Pharmacies Handicap where 5/2 shot Redstone Well made virtually all under Amy Jo Hayes and held off the late surge of Chocolat Blu by half a length.

“He’s a great little horse and it’s great for the owner [Richard Ahern, from Castletownroche] who bred him as well and would be local to me,” said trainer Danny O’Sullivan.

“He has one pace but can maintain that and is versatile ground-wise. He won on soft ground before and was second at Dundalk twice. Amy gets on well with him and her 7lb claim means a lot.”