A LITTLE over 24 hours on from their famous Coronation Stakes success at Royal Ascot, Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll again combined for a notable win with Vorfreude in the €100,000 Boylesports Ulster Derby.

Placed on his last four outings and starting off in handicap company, the Tom Egan-owned bay gelding raced mainly in second, as Sunriseontheboyne took the field along.

Taking over from the front-runner with less than three furlongs to go, the 11/4 chance found generously when ridden and ultimately came home a length and a quarter clear of Winston Junior.

“It has actually been an ambition to win this, so it is nice to get it done,” Murphy’s son and namesake commented.

“He brought strong maiden form and was beaten by two very good horses in Navan. To be honest, while he’s trying to win his maiden all along, the plan was here since last September. He was always made for a race like this.

“He could be a Cesarewitch horse in time, but he got the job done today, so we will get him home and mind him.”

Impressive win

Carroll, who was 2lb overweight on Vorfreude, had earlier guided In My Teens to an impressive win in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over and extended mile and two furlongs.

Out of Jer’s Girl, who was twice successful at the highest level over flights, the J.P. McManus-owned home-bred had finished second on debut at Gowran.

Short of room early on in this mile-and-a-quarter contest, the Camelot-sired bay was soon settled towards rear, making progress into fourth with three furlongs to go.

Returned a 2/1 joint-favourite, she eased to the front entering the straight and increased her advantage inside the final 200 yards, coasting to a six-and-a-half length win.

“We knew she always wanted a trip, but we said we would start her off over a mile in Gowran and this was the obvious next race,” Cromwell reflected.

“She did things right today and, as time goes on, she will learn more. She’s nice to look forward to.”

Dark comes into the limelight

LIGHT Up The Dark completed a cross-card four-timer for Joseph O’Brien and a double for both Scott McCullagh and J.P. McManus in the concluding Eventco Marquees Maiden.

A dual bumper winner, the most recent of which was in listed company, the Camelot filly had been disappointing in two starts since.

Well-supported into 13/8 favouritism, from 9/2 in early shows, the four-year-old raced mainly in third and travelled best to lead early in the straight.

Soon pushed along, she was kept up to her work in the closing stages and ultimately came home three-quarters of a length to the good.

“It was a true-run race and there was no hiding place. She travelled comfortably, picked up and just did enough,” McCullagh reported.

Registering his first win for O’Brien (who also completed a double at Limerick), McCullagh had earlier partnered Angelo Pio to a narrow win in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap.

Joint-favourite

Successful over the course and distance last month, the William and Andrew Treacy-owned bay colt was sent off an easy-to-back 3/1 joint-favourite (15/8 early).

Ridden into a share of the lead with a furlong to go, the son of Sottsass was soon engaged in a battle with fellow market principal Paddydaddy.

Drifting left and bumping that rival inside the final 100 yards, there was just half a length between them at the line and, after a lengthy enquiry, the result remained unaltered.

“I took the chances and it worked out, he was good and game,” McCullagh divulged.

“It is nice to get my first winner for Joseph, he has been nothing but supportive.”

Lee keeps his ‘Royal’ run going strong

FRESH from two Royal Ascot wins and a double the previous evening, Billy Lee again excelled by registering a treble.The success of Royal Entry (9/4) was the highlight of his afternoon, with this Paddy Twomey-trained four-year-old coming from last to first in the Boylesports Irish EBF Ulster Oaks Handicap. The Joe and Marguerite Joyce-owned victor was again sluggish away from the stalls and raced in rear. Still last with two furlongs to go, the Fracas-sired chesnut soon made headway and found another gear when ridden inside the final 200 yards, ultimately getting the better of Lady Lunette by half a length.

“She’s a filly with a lot of ability,” Twomey remarked. “She gives away plenty of ground at the start, but has the class to make it up. I felt her run the last day (finished fourth) was a very good level of form comparative to this sort of race and I thought she was the one to beat.”

Lee initiated his three-timer on Letiza in the Mongey Communications Handicap, with this Henry de Bromhead-trained joint top-weight justifying strong market support. Touching 3/1 in early shows for this mile-and-a-quarter contest, the All Stars Racing Syndicate-owned five-year-old eventually went off the clear favourite at 6/5.

Reeled in

Coming from off the pace and ridden in pursuit of Dancing Steve with over a furlong to go, she gradually reeled in that rival and was three-quarters of a length to the good at the line.

“I told Henry that I was just going to take my time. They didn’t go a mad gallop and she got me into the race well,” Lee explained.

“That one (Dancing Steve) had kicked clear and I thought I might have a job getting it but, to be fair to her, all she did was lengthen and lengthen to the line.”

Owned and trained by Noel Meade, Lee also guided Billie Frechette to victory in the Mount Charles Handicap. The Zoffany grey was sent off the second choice of punters at 3/1. Pushed along to lead early in the straight, the 59-rated four-year-old was ridden over a furlong from home and kept on well from there to beat 11/8 favourite Arcland by two lengths.

“I always thought she was capable of being better than she was,” Meade disclosed. “She stays further and she jumps. Hopefully, she will win again.”