IT came as a surprise to some that the Rockingham Handicap had eluded ‘Sprint King’ Eddie Lynam until Sunday, when the progressive five-year-old Keke added the valuable sprint to the trainer’s CV.

Owned and bred by Andrew Cohen under his Wood Hall Stud banner, the Dandy Man gelding came into the race having won four of his last seven starts, but had to overcome the traditionally unfavourable draw of stall one.

Billy Lee had steered last year’s winner from the same stall, giving him confidence to remain in the far group of three, from a total field of 14. One of the last off the bridle, the 11/4 favourite was ridden to lead a furlong from home and ran on strongly to beat Red Evolution by a length.

Lynam later revealed: “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win. I’ve got a nickname as being a good sprint trainer and I’ve never even got close to winning it. My grandmother won it when I was a kid in the sixties with Wingfield Lily.

“I trained him for this race and when I saw the draw on Friday, I thought we were in trouble. We’ve just brought him along steadily and it’s great to win this race.”

Fleetfoot provides welcome tonic

Fleetfoot’s win in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap will have also meant a lot to Jim Bolger, as his brother Liam passed away earlier this week, while he also recently lost close friend Kevin Prendergast.

Owned by Mrs Bolger with Frederik Tylicki, Fleetfoot was trying the mile-and-a-half trip for the first time, with his two previous wins coming over nine furlongs and a mile. Sent off 20/1 under Declan McDonogh, the Teofilo gelding took a keen hold behind the leaders and was asked to quicken turning for home.

Ridden passing the two-furlong pole, he stayed on well close home to beat Cloud Seeker by a neck. The 100/30 favourite Beset was forced to wait for a gap, before running on to take third, while the fourth-placed Zoffman and fifth horse Mashhoor were others for the notebook.

Bolger’s travelling head lad Ger Flynn commented: “You have to give the boss and Freddie (Tylicki) credit for their patience with the horse. He’s always had plenty of ability. Today we knew we had him right, the ground, the trip.

“Declan had him in a lovely position at the top of the hill and he hit the line hard today. That’s what he’s showing us at home all the time.

“It’s been a tough week for the boss, as his brother Liam passed away on Wednesday and his good pal Kevin Prendergast’s funeral was on Tuesday so that is a bit of a tonic.

“He’s in the July Sale next week and that is where he will go next.”

Family in fine form

Bellaphina (13/2) was another who enjoyed a change of luck on the day, as the John Kinsella-trained mare landed her second premier handicap at the Curragh, the GAIN Summer Fillies & Mares Handicap over seven furlongs.

Positioned in midfield by James Ryan, the five-year-old travelled with eye-catching ease passing the two-furlong marker and was ridden to lead a furlong later. Soon in command, she kept on well to score by a length and a quarter, as Dance Night Andday finished well in second.

“She has always been held in high regard and won a Premier Handicap here as a three-year-old,” John Kinsella reflected.

“This year she had a good run in Gowran on heavy ground and then got a setback before getting no luck in running at Limerick the last day.

“She’s very quick and you can’t go too early on her. She’s in a Group 3 at Leopardstown on July 10 (Brownstown Stakes) and, all going to plan, she will go there.”

Blacktype will be a bonus for breeders Agricola Ficomontanino, who own the daughter of James Garfield in partnership with Leaf Stud.

She is a half-sister to Moltophino, who ran out a smart winner of the Habitat Handicap a month earlier for the same connections.