COLIN Keane continued his march towards retaining the jockeys’ championship by riding a double at Dundalk on Friday evening. First up was the Adrian Murray-trained Leblon Beach in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Sent off 8/1, the Capital Thoroughbreds Syndicate-owned filly led over a furlong out, staying on to score by one and a half lengths. Keane later said: “She doesn’t look like a filly that has had three runs, so she has probably taken the three runs for the penny to drop. You couldn’t do anything but like her, the way she did it.

“Still even a little bit sluggish into stride for a filly that has had two runs but, when she out and raced, got to the line well and had a look. It looked like a nice maiden beforehand and she is probably just a filly that has taken a couple of runs to come to hand. Nice to get her head in front.”

Making all

Jorge Alvares brought up the brace for Keane when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. The Ger Lyons-trained 1/1 favourite made all the running to win by two lengths in the colours of Gaelic Thoroughbreds.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “It was great and the blinkers have worked wonders for him there. They have made him concentrate, but he was very genuine there. Got a lovely break and Colin said his mind was on the game there the whole way around the bend.

“Hopefully, the owners (Gaelic Thoroughbreds) will have a bit of fun with him for the foreseeable future in the summer. Blinkers can be used for different reasons but they made him concentrate on his job.”

GARY Carroll teamed up with Pat Flynn to win the Saturday 12th July Ladies’ Day At Dundalk Stadium Handicap with Carrigans Grove. Sent off 16/1, the Ms Sinead Maher-owned filly led over a furlong out, keeping on to beat Beano Power a neck.

Carroll said: “She ran well the last meeting before Christmas (in fourth). She was out of a very fast mare, Queen Grace. Jumped, travelled there today and she tried and stayed going. She might get six (furlongs) in time. She had a really good blow, so I think she could improve for it.

“When they jump and try like that and have a bit of speed, you are hoping she might progress. He (Flynn) was hopeful, but he thought it was her first run since Christmas and thought she might need it. She did, but I’m hoping she will improve from it.”

“Lovable oul rogue”

Macadam’s Rock led close home under Ben Coen to take the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap. Trained by Hilary McLoughlin, the 100/30 chance carried the colours of Martin Ferris to a one-length success.

Coen said: “He’s a lovable oul rogue and ran well here the last day. It set up nice for him today, they went a nice gallop and I was able to come with one kind of swoop down the outside. He doesn’t do much when he gets there. Off those sort of marks he is competitive.

“I suppose a fast-run seven is ideal for him. He doesn’t have the pace for six and he doesn’t quite see out the mile, so seven furlongs where they go a nice gallop is ideal. Nice to get his head back in front.”

THE Donnacha O’Brien-trained Professor Longhair made a winning racecourse debut in the Shop Online At Horsecare.ie Maiden. Gavin Ryan guided the 11/2 chance to a two-and-a-quarter-length success in the colours of F Fahy.

O’Brien said: “He’s a beautiful horse - he’s a fine, big, strong horse. He’s quite sleepy at home, so I think there is a lot of improvement in him. You could (see him going out in trip), but also I think he is going to sharpen up for the run.

“I don’t think he is a mile and a half horse by any means. Maybe he could stretch out to 10 (furlongs), but I think kind of a mile to 10 would be kind of his trip. We’ll take him home and see how he is and make sure he comes out of it and make a plan then.”

Trainer Andy Slattery and his son Andrew won the Greyhound Racing Every Weekend Handicap with 12/1 chance Drucker. Making his handicap debut, the colt led over a furlong out to record a one-and-three-quarter-length victory.

The winning trainer reported: “He wasn’t showing much early in the season. We thought he was a nice horse last year, he had three runs and they were mediocre.

“I said to Pat (Garvey, owner) that he did his best piece of work last Saturday morning. Andrew rode him about two weeks ago at home and he said ‘this is a nice horse’. He is developing. He said he is still a bit raw, he said there is more to come.”

Princess causes a stir

Albion Princess caused an 80/1 upset when making all to win the closing View Restaurant Summer Offer Just 29 Euro Handicap. Patrick McGettigan led throughout on the Donal Kinsella-owned and trained mare, just holding on to beat Chopsticks a neck.

Kinsella said: “They didn’t get near her. I said ‘get as far ahead of them as you can’ and he did. I think he was 25 lengths in front at one stage.

“I was afraid she wouldn’t hold on purely because if she saw another horse, she probably might change her mind.

“She was for sale yesterday or this morning at 100 pounds or 100 euro with a head collar. If she hadn’t won, I wasn’t going to train her. She has caused me more thoughts up and down and inside out. The fact that she has won, it is brilliant.”