A DOUBLE put Colin Keane three clear in the jockeys' title race at Gowran Park on Wednesday afternoon, with rival Pat Smullen drawing a blank on the day.

The opening leg was provided by Inscribe (5/2 joint-fav) who took advantage of a lenient handicap mark in the www.gowranpark.ie Handicap, beating Admirality by a length.

The winner is trained by Ger Lyons, who also provided Keane with the other half of his brace – World War, who landed a long overdue first career success when winning the Racing Again November 25th Maiden.

Lyons' charge came into this on the back of a string of runner-up finishes but proved much the best of these as he strode to a cosy length and a half success.

Smartly away in Keane's hands, the 8/11 favourite had built up a healthy lead as they swung for home and although beginning tire as he passed the furlong marker, he still had enough left in the tank to hold off outsider Warnaq.

World War has been pencilled in for a date at the Newmarket Sales, with this victory sure to have enhanced his value.

Shane Lyons said afterwards: "He's going to the Newmarket Sales and is a genuine horse that will do a job for the other code. He's a fine big horse.

"We'll see how he comes out of this and there could be another race for him before that. It was a tough ask on that ground to make all."

DOUBLE

There was another notable juvenile performance thirty minutes later as Cimeara (10/1) made a winning debut in the Thomastown Fillies Median Auction Maiden.

Jim Bolger's filly looks a real stayer in the making and although seemingly up against it when Dianthus took over with a furlong to run, she found plenty for pressure and got up late to score by half a length in the hands of Kevin Manning.

Bolger's travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: "Kevin said she was very green for one of ours but came home really well. She should learn a lot and improve from that.

"It was very testing out there today and she seemed to handle it. She is a nice filly going forward."

Bolger, Manning, and Cimeara's sire Vocalised also struck with Haunting Vocals (9/1) who won the seven-furlong Gowran Park Racing Club Nursery Handicap by two and a quarter lengths.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Saracen Knight produced a dominant display when opening his account in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Gowran Park.

The son of Camelot was sent off the 1/2 favourite following sustained late support and made no mistake on his third career start, leading up from the outset and pouring it on the closing stages to see off Razoul by a length and three-quarters.

Winning rider Seamus Heffernan said: "I liked him at the Curragh and the two that beat him the last day are above average. He stays well. We have plenty of Camelots and I'd say there is still more to come from them. They are not as early as what you would like."

Invincible Queen (12/1) came home best of all to land the spoils in the Like Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap, Voyageofdiscovery (9/2) maintained his recent upturn in form with head triumph in the Like Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap, and the concluding Gowran Park Gold Memberships For 2018 Handicap went the way of wide-margin victor Laid Back Luke (14/1).

READ THE FULL GOWRAN PARK REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD