EARLSWOOD made it a 24 hours to remember for super-sub jockey Shane Kelly as he once again successfully deputised for the suspended Ben Cohen to win the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes, having also landed Group race spoils on Create Belief the previous evening at Leopardstown, both for trainer Johnny Murtagh.

Building on the promise of his Irish Derby run, when not blessed with the clearest of runs, Earlswood (114) registered a smooth success courtesy of a fine turn of speed that enabled the three-year-old colt to take full advantage of the gap between the front-running pair Bolivar and Finans Bay passing the furlong marker.

A closing three-furlong sectional of 34.42secs illustrates the extent to which the son of Pivotal quickened as it was the best in the field and even more meritorious when compared to the other races on the round track won by Twilight Payment (114) and Golden Twilight (82), who clocked 36.1secs and 37.15secs respectively.

The persuasion from the saddle was initially vigorous but, once in the clear, Kelly put his stick down so the likelihood is there is more to come.

Whether there is enough progression to justify the Champion Stakes entry at Ascot or the entry in the Irish equivalent that this win grants remains to be seen, but he would have to be respected as a lively outsider, while further success looks guaranteed at Group 2 level.

Back to form

A resurgent Reve De Vol (109) returned to the form that saw him beat Patrick Sarsfield over the course and distance on his seasonal debut. The Moyglare Stud Farm-owned colt quite clearly found the mile and a half at Roscommon beyond his stamina limits and comprehensively turned around the form with Layfayette.

Colin Keane was happy to find cover until deep in the race before challenging on the outside, allowing the three-year-old to run down all, but the winner to finish off in 34.49secs.

Finans Bay (106) was surprisingly raised 7lb for finishing a three-length sixth to Cadillac over the course and distance in the International Stakes but, judged on this run, the handicapper’s assessment is well-founded.

As was the case when finishing behind Cadillac, Mick Halford’s gelding had to work hard to get near the front from a wide draw. Ronan Whelan took a lead from Bolivar, until edging past that rival passing the two-furlong marker.

The son of Kodiac could not resist the finishing effort of the front two but, in finishing off in 35secs, he held the remainder comfortably. Having previously won on heavy ground, the four-year-old is clearly suited by plenty of give in the ground and there was a lot to like about his finishing effort – with neck extended – as he tried all the way to the finishing line.

Innisfree returns

The classiest runner in the race was Innisfree (104) who was making a return to the track following a 651-day absence. Aidan O’Brien’s colt was keen in the early stages, even though well covered up by Seamie Heffernan, before finishing off strongly into a never-nearer fifth, posting a closing sectional of 34.89secs.

The performance of Innisfree also points to the run of Bear Story (104) being that of an improving horse. Mick Halford’s colt finished powerfully from a similar position. It was a surprising entry for a horse that has won just once on the all-weather and had only finished second in a rated race at Fairyhouse on his last outing.

A finishing effort of 34.51secs matched those around him so, if afforded the opportunity of contesting a handicap in the near future the Kodiac colt could well add to his winning tally.

Unfortunately the handicapper also noticed the effort of Bear Story and has raised him 7lb.