GER Lyons and Colin Keane combined to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes at Dundalk for the third year running when Geocentric ran out an impressive winner last Friday night.

The Kodiac filly went to post 11/8 favourite for the listed contest over five furlongs following two stakes-placed efforts on her most recent starts.

From stall one, Keane had his mount prominent throughout and she led turning for home.

Despite wandering slightly in windy conditions the SBA Racing Limited owned-filly galloped on strongly to post a two-and-three-quarter-length winning margin over Ladies Church.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said afterwards: “We’re delighted with that, she’s been a great servant for us.

“She could go for a break now and if so it would be a nice way to end the season on a high but she’s also in the Mercury Stakes and we’ll see how she comes out of the race.”

Double

The yard secured a double when Nero Tulip also ran out an impressive winner of the BetVictor Apprentice Nursery a couple of races later.

Sam Ewing did the steering on the 7/4 favourite who cruised into the lead a furlong and a half from home and went on to score by three and a quarter lengths in the seven-furlong contest.

The Peter Trainor-owned colt had dead-heated at Naas on his previous start and Shane Lyons said: “He’s improving with every run and getting sharper.

“He’s in the Birdcatcher (at Naas), we ran here worried that it might come up very soft there and he mightn’t like it but Sam’s confident he’ll go with a cut in the ground so that will probably be his next start.”

O’Brien colt Snaffles listed prize money

SNAFFLES looks a name to remember after a smart performance to land the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained colt was easy to back stepping up in class in the seven-furlong contest but quickened up best in a sprint finish.

Shane Crosse produced the 11/1 shot (5/1 in morning) to lead inside the final furlong as he prevailed by three-quarters of a length from King X J in a bunch finish.

Assistant Brendan Powell said of Demi O’Byrne’s colt: “It was a lovely performance. I think he should be unbeaten as first time out he was slowly away, got into all sorts of trouble and ran on well.

“If you saw him in the paddock before he’s literally asleep. He’s the most laid-back horse you’ll ever get. I think there is so much improvement.”

Crosse bagged a quick double for himself when Royal Scholar claimed the following mile handicap for Sarah Lynam.

Travelled well

The 10/3 favourite travelled well to make up ground early in the straight and was delivered late on to pip Burning Lake by half a length.

“I advised my uncle John to buy him last year but it didn’t work out at the time,” said Lynam. “I thought John was an unlucky owner but I’ve had two winners for him this year, so he’s lucky now!”

The second division of that contest was a family affair as Emma Doyle partnered Lisabetta to success for her father Tim in the colours of her mother Claire.

The 33/1 shot came with a strong surge inside the final furlong to beat Brosna Empress by a length and a quarter.

“That’s Emma’s third winner and she’s down to 7lb now. She had her first winner here a couple of years ago, it’s just been slow but she’s getting better. She got a lovely spin there and did everything right,” said the winning trainer.

HARRY’S Bar secured his third win at Dundalk with a convincing success in the opening BetVictor Race on the card. The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding was held up in the five-furlong contest before being produced with a challenge early in the straight.

Wayne Lordan sent the 7/4 shot to the front over a furlong out and he soon asserted, going on to beat The Highway Rat by a length and three-quarters.

Assistant Stephen Thorne said afterwards: “He’s a high-class horse up here on this surface. We’ve been eyeing this race up for quite a while. It’s being used as a prep run for the Mercury Stakes here at the end of the month. He’s been a great fun horse for the (Shamrock Thoroughbreds) syndicate.”

Donnacha O’Brien was out of luck in the feature event with favourite Absolute Ruler but left the venue on a high note after the success of Moon Daisy in the concluding Betvictor Handicap in his mother Annemarie’s colours.

Paddy Harnett produced the 15/2 shot to lead inside the final furlong in the mile-and-a-half contest and secure a half-length win over Bright Idea.

Hampered

O’Brien said afterwards: “She did well as she got hampered early on. We know she can handle that surface now so we might keep her going for the winter and see what happens.”

Robbie Colgan is hopeful there is more to come from That’s Just Dandy after the Patrick Turley-trained gelding gained a narrow victory in the BetVictor Maiden over seven furlongs.

The Dandy Man gelding, in the colours of Mary Turley, was to the fore throughout and held a narrow advantage inside the final furlong as he beat Spilt Passion by a head. “We thought a lot of him early on but he was doing things wrong, being too keen. He’s starting to relax now and finish off his races. Hopefully he’ll be alright,” said Colgan.