BILLY Lee was at the double in Down Royal, which was initiated by Love Bomb (5/1) in the opening Molson Coors Beverage Company Nursery over the minimum trip.

Trained by Willie McCreery for his wife Amanda, the filly tracked the pace on the outer before improving to lead a furlong out. Despite being green in front, the winner wasn’t hard pressed to beat Final Melody by a length and a quarter.

Lee said: “She jumped well today and travelled easy all the way. I was after taking her back just before the road just not to get there too soon. In fairness, when I let her down, she picked up nicely and ran all the way to the line.

“She is very speedy and that ground is probably as slow as she would want it. Might be one for the all-weather as well.”

Double down

The Andy Oliver-trained Faro Island (11/2) came from off the pace to land the Pravha Handicap under Lee.

James Nicholson’s Ulysses gelding raced in mid-division on the inner before being gradually angled out for racing room on the approach to the elbow. Picking up well on the outer on the run to the final furlong, he collared Searcog close home to score by half a length.

Lee said: “He travelled around lovely, just had to bide my time and work my way out. As soon as I got out into the daylight, he picked up well and, with the cheek pieces on for a reason, he was just doing enough going to the line.

“I thought it was a nice performance from a three-year-old and, hopefully, there is another one in him.”

McCreery’s brace

Navy Waters (18/5) completed a double for McCreery when landing the Coors Fillies Handicap under Nathan Crosse.

The grey filly tracked the leaders, but Crosse just had to wait for room running downhill towards the final quarter-mile.

A gap appeared over a furlong out and she quickly came through it to lead and stayed on well to account for the Ulster Cesarewitch winner Alba Chiara by a length and a half for owner/breeder Miceal Martin Sammon.

Crosse said: “We all got going and I was just biding my time waiting for an out. In fairness to the filly, when I got her out and got a bit of daylight, she stretched well.

“If you saw her there, she’s a big filly and when she fills out that frame and strengthens up again, she will be a smashing filly for next year.”

STARMAN filly Stars Will Shine ran on strongly for a clear-cut success in the Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden.

The 11/8 favourite powered away from her rivals in the final furlong to open up by four and three quarter lengths for trainer Noel Meade and owner Sabina Kelly.

Jockey Colin Keane said: “You always like to see them coming home over seven (furlongs) and you wouldn’t rule out a mile after today.

“I think she could progress to that (being a stakes filly), she has the right attitude and she is going the right way.”

Good style

A maiden winner on his previous start at Dundalk, Bishopton (5/2 favourite) followed up in good style in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap for Natalia Lupini.

Sam Coen slotted him in behind the leaders and, once rounding the elbow with over a furlong to race, sent the Invincible Spirit gelding to the front. Coen drove the winner out to score by four and a quarter lengths for Nigel O’Hare, Dougie Sloan, Milena Mocchetti and the Kabin Racing Syndicate.

Assistant trainer Craig Bryson said: “We maybe aimed him a bit high at the start of the year - we started off in the Blackwater (Handicap, Naas, fifth) over a mile and we maybe lost our way a little bit.

“The handicapper will most likely have his say, but we would be hopeful he is progressive. We actually think he could improve into a nice four-year-old, a nice handicapper for next year.”

SMILING made the breakthrough at the fifth time of asking in the Madri Excepcional Maiden over the extended seven furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge was prominent throughout and was ridden to the front by Wayne Lordan on the approach to the final furlong. She kept on well to score by four lengths at 9/2 for Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier.

Lordan said: “She had some nice runs previously. She is always a filly that has taken her time, mentally she is just not tuned in. Even today, she was after a good few runs and she was fine and raw again today.

“Didn’t turn great and, when she got there, she had a good look, so mentally she is catching up. I thought around here would suit her back to seven (furlongs), because she has plenty of pace.”

Suspended

Seamie Heffernan was suspended for four race days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee for failing to weigh in on fourth-placed Perfect Base, who was subsequently disqualified.

Dylan Browne McMonagle steered Glenroyal (15/8 favourite) to victory in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap over the extended mile and a half for Joseph O’Brien.

Ray Grehan’s three-year-old had been given a break since running on successive days at the Galway Festival where he won on his first appearance before finishing down the field 24 hours later.

He tracked the leaders and hit the front over a furlong out, but had to fend off Railwayviewlady by a neck.

Browne McMonagle said: “He stays well. He’s a horse that will have no problem stepping up in trip in time. He’s only a baby still and he hasn’t many miles, so he is only going to progress with a bit of age.”