JOSEPH O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined to record a double at Down Royal on Friday evening, with Summer Is Tomorrow first to strike in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Well supported from 10/1 into 4/1, the Michael Hilary Burke-owned colt led close home to beat Kensington Lane (11/4 favourite) by a head.

McMonagle reported: “He has been a little bit slow out of the gates on his first two starts and thankfully today he jumped good and put himself in a spot. He’s an improving horse and he is only going to get better. He’s a solid horse and fingers crossed there is more to come.

“Gavin (Ryan on Kensington Lane) kicked and he got a couple of lengths on me at the bottom of the straight. I did feel like he was away because it took a little while for the penny to drop on my fella up the straight but the further I went, the better he got.”

Fellow improver

Bear Creek brought up the brace when easily landing the concluding Ampion Your Partner For Safety, Efficiency And Compliance Handicap over a mile and five furlongs. Sent off 15/8 favourite, the Rachel Carthy-owned colt scored readily by two lengths.

“He did it well,” McMonagle said. “He’s sharpening up with racing. In fairness to him, he found plenty for pressure. Stepping up in distance was definitely a big help today.

“He’s an improving horse, so delighted to get his head in front. He’s sticking to handicaps and see how it goes, and hopefully he is not finished yet.” That win was completing a treble on the day for Joseph O’Brien, who was also amongst the winners at Killarney with Nurburgring.

SCOTT McCullagh came from last to first on Mo Ghille Mar to win the Ampion Your Trusted Partner In Facilities Management Fillies Handicap. The Jessica Harrington-trained filly belied odds of 16/1 to score by three and a quarter lengths for owners Bronsan Racing.

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “She was good, she was back down to a workable mark. We changed up tactics with her today, we took our time in a small field and I think she really enjoyed not being in a big field handicap and the hustle and bustle of it. She got things her own way.

“It is lovely to get her head back in front. She’s in the big mile and a half handicap at Galway, so we will see how things come whether we go there or not with her. It is a big pot, we will think about it.”

Consistent colt

Ger Lyons and Gary Carroll finished second in the fillies’ handicap with favourite Heather, but kicked off the card with a win with Howd’yadoit (11/4) in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Placed on his first three starts, the juvenile colt got up close home to win by one and a quarter lengths in the familiar colours of Sean Jones.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “We are delighted with that. He’s a very consistent horse and we didn’t think he was a five (furlong) horse through and through, but we stopped off here for five because he has experience in Down Royal which means an awful lot. It showed there.

“[Gary Carroll] said it took him a bit of time to get going and, when he did, he gave him a thump and he said he showed some turn of foot. It opens up the road to a nice nursery or whatever. He’s ground versatile.”

HERO Of The Hour made it two from two at the track when following up last year’s win in the Ampion Testing Across UK And Ireland Handicap. Leading early in the straight, James Ryan kept the 9/2 chance up to his work to win by a length for owner David Hoey.

Winning trainer Tom McCourt said: “He went up in the weights last year for a few wins and, when he gets back to a level again, he is plenty capable of it. He did his winning up in Dundalk for George (Kingston, former trainer), he had plenty of luck with him as well.

“They (horses) have been running very well now, touch wood, since before Bellewstown. They have hit a nice vein of form, some of them are nicely handicapped which is a big thing.”

Off the mark

The Jim Bolger-trained Purple Sky (16/1) later opened her account in the Ampion Your Partner In Electrical Testing Handicap under Declan McDonogh. The four-year-old led early in the straight, before keeping on well to win by half a length for owner Mrs Jackie Bolger.

Travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “Declan gave her a fantastic ride; he rode the boss’s instructions to a tee. It is grand to get her there now because she has been showing that at home.

“Bit lower in the weights and she has a chance and to be fair, she has come in herself, she looked fantastic today. She handled the track and the ground is lovely. I think she is probably in again next week, but sure onwards and upwards with her now.”

Perfect timing

Sam Coen got up close home on the Ado McGuinness-trained Doctor Grace (9/1) to win the GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap by a head in the colours of the Dundalk Racing Club.

McGuinness said: “He [Sam Coen] gave her a peach of a ride - he was very, very good on her. She is usually slow away a little bit and I just told him to take his time. He was just so cool on her, he never budged going down the hill.

“Delighted for the guys. I think we will have plenty of fun with her before the year is out. She has schooled over hurdles, so she might even appear over one before the year is out. I’d love to get one of those, it is a long time since I had a hurdle winner. We’ll see what happens.”