YET more evidence of the strength of the Ger Lyons two-year-old team was supplied by the Debutante and Moyglare Stakes entry French Rain (3/1) who made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The daughter of Siyouni did everything quite nicely for Colin Keane throughout this six-furlong event and without being subjected to strong pressure, asserted nicely over the last furlong to see off her experienced market rival Blissful by one and three-quarter lengths.

“She was very professional but she will improve plenty for the run and we liked her at home. We’ve a good bunch of fillies and she’s up there with them. She’ll improve for a longer trip too,” reported the trainer’s brother, Shane.

Aidan Howard notched up his second winner in three days as Miss Jabeam came from well off the pace to land the 45-75 rated six-furlong handicap. The Newtown Downs Syndicate-owned three-year-old finished strongly over the last furlong for Billy Lee to defeat Noirvento by three-parts of a length.

On her first start for two months, the winner was returned at 16/1 as she added this race to her maiden success at Dundalk last November.

Improving stayer

A drop in class from the Irish Derby and a step up in trip for the two-mile handicap enabled Aidan O’Brien’s Il Paradiso to show his true worth as he ran riot to look every inch a group-class stayer. Wayne Lordan kept the 11/10 favourite on the pace, and with imperceptible effort over the course of the straight Il Paradiso moved further and further clear to come home a dozen lengths clear.

“He’s a lovely horse and he didn’t run badly in the Irish Derby. He’s an improving horse and he looks a Leger horse. I’d say the three-year-olds this year are a very good bunch,” declared the winning trainer.

After a sequence that yielded two runner-up finishes in maidens and a fourth in the Ulster Derby, the Jim Bolger-trained and Kevin Manning-ridden Halimi ran out a deserving winner of the mile-and-a-half maiden.

The Godolphin-owned 9/4 favourite went to the front for Kevin Manning some way from home and showed a good attitude to contain the persistent Quote by a neck.

“He’s a good stayer and he’ll get another couple of furlongs. We’ll look for a handicap for him now,” commented Bolger.

The first leg of the Corinthian Challenge Race Series went to Yvonne Connolly who partnered Jessica Harrington’s Neverushacon (8/1) to victory.