MARK Crehan, a highly successful apprentice riding 74 winners in Britain before returning home and joining Aidan O’Brien’s team at Ballydoyle last year, got his new Irish career off to the best possible start when partnering 7/2 chance Blackpool to take the Skippo Maiden for the Coolmore partners.

“It’s a dream come true, especially to ride a winner in these [Michael Tabor] silks. I can’t thank Aidan enough,” said Crehan (26) after the impeccably-bred son of Galileo took a clear lead over half a mile out and kept on well under pressure in the final furlong to beat Realt Na Ri by a length and three quarters.

He added: “I was apprenticed to Richard Hannon and then moved to Newmarket and flew for George Boughey. The rides started to dry up last year and I got a little bit heavy, so I came home and joined Aidan’s last July. I’ve learned loads riding with some of the best jockeys in the country. I love it there.

“My family are from Summerhill and I’m delighted there are plenty of them here this evening.”

O’Brien was represented by Chris Armstrong, who said: “He’s a horse who is going to stay well and we’ll see what kind of handicap mark he gets and where he fits in. Mark is a very good work rider and Aidan always rewards people who come in and do the hard graft.”

BILLY Lee moved onto the 37-winner mark for the season with a 20/1 double initiated by Orchidaceae, who followed up her Curragh maiden win last month by taking the Irish EBF Auction Series Race in convincing fashion.

The Churchill filly made all and asserted over a furlong out to beat fellow 100/30 joint favourite Deo Vero by two lengths.

“Everything went to plan, and she’s a very forward-going filly who loves that good ground. She has enough speed for six and she gets the seven, so it gives us a few possibilities. You would like to think that she could step up in grade and she could come back here for the Silver Flash,” said Andy Oliver, who trains the winner for Team Valor.

Walsh winner

Lee adopted similar tactics aboard 4/1 favourite Ferrybank in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Tickets On Sale Now Handicap, taking control well over a furlong out before going on to beat Rio Largo by a length and a quarter.

“He likes Leopardstown,” said Ted Walsh, who trains the five-time winner for his wife Helen.

“We’ve had a good bit of fun out of him and he’s paying his way.”

Lee missed out on a treble when replaced on Oriental Dancer by Ronan Whelan, rerouted here after an intended mount at Royal Ascot was scratched, in the Dualway Coaches Handicap. The daughter of Dubawi made headway between horses to lead inside the final furlong before keeping on well to beat Below Deck by a length and a half.

“She’s a filly with a lovely pedigree and is in foal to Dark Angel, so it was important to win with her. The strong pace suited her and she’s after settling a lot better lately at home,” said Michael Halford, who trains 4/1 shot in partnership with Tracey Collins.

Oriental Dancer is owned by Dubai World Cup winning rider Tadhg O’Shea and his wife Debbie, and Halford added: “The jockey who owns her is having a wonderful year and it only seems like the other day he was an apprentice to me.”

CHICAGO Fireball won a Gowran maiden in good style on heavy ground last month and coped well with this much faster surface when again making all in the Bingo Loco After Racing Handicap.

Trained by Johnny Murtagh for Samuel Mencoff and Tony Smurfit, the 2/1 chance asserted early in the straight and was still over two lengths clear 150 yards out, but needed to be driven out close home by Ben Coen to hold off Ragga Bomb by a diminishing neck.

“He probably just got a bit lonely when we got close to the line. He’s an improving horse and I think we’ll have a lot of fun with him this year,” said Coen.

Keithen Kennedy was seen to good effect when bringing Bear Profit (11/2) from last to first in the straight to land division one of the BoyleSports Lengthen The Odds Handicap. The top-weight made rapid headway between horses before quickening clear inside the final 100 yards to beat Tyder by two lengths.

Leaving Cert success

“I didn’t think he was going to be involved but Keithen smuggled him into it. He sat his Leaving Cert last Friday after riding a winner here on Thursday night. That’s some dedication,” said Ger O’Leary who trains the 11/2 winner for the Purosangue Racing Syndicate.

“We fancied him at Listowel but things didn’t go right, he was very keen.”

Smaoineamh Sile was another to make all on the evening and in the process recorded a third course-and-distance win at odds of 9/1 in division two of this nine-furlong event, holding on by half a length from Doctor Grace. Winning rider Jamie Powell was given a four-day whip ban while Adam Caffrey was also hit with a four-day whip suspension on fourth-placed Comfort Line.

“Peter [Commane, owner] has had three horses with the Sile name and they have all now won four races. They are all tough, genuine fillies,” said trainer John McConnell.

“I thought she would need the run a little bit, but she got an easy lead and is good around here. She will probably go to Bellewstown now.”

Ballybrit-bound Dancer

The Blackrock Racing Syndicate were out in force to greet Williamstowndancer after the 5/6 favourite cruised into contention early in the straight of the Racing With Pride (Q.R.) Maiden but needed to be ridden out inside the final furlong to beat Benjis Benefit by a length and a half.

“I think she just needed the run. It’s great for a local syndicate and I think there was 37 of them here today so the pressure was on,” said rider Patrick Mullins.

“That’s great to get a flat win into that pedigree. She’s in foal to Fascinating Rock and we’ve leased her off John O’Connor [breeder]. If we get into the Galway Hurdle, we might go there next.”