FOLLOWING a treble the previous afternoon, Colin Keane stepped up his defence of the Jockeys’ Championship with a further two winners at Dundalk on Friday evening.

By The Lake, trained by Ger Lyons, justified odds of 6/4 favourite when leading inside the final furlong to land the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. Carrying the colours of John Kirkland and Mrs J M Ryan, the filly beat Rosie Firth a neck.

Shane Lyons said: “It was obvious that she didn’t stay the six in the sales race. Well done to Ger, it was his decision to take a punt and run her back quick over five.

“We’ll look at the programme book but there is a fillies listed race back here (Legacy Stakes on October 3rd) over five. She’s shown she’s very quick and handles here, so that would be the obvious race. She’s a two-year-old so we’ll make hay while the sun shines.”

Doubling up

Keane doubled up aboard the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Strait And Narrow in the following Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. Sent off 4/1, the Charles and Paul O’Callaghan-owned filly led inside the final furlong to beat Nazario by three-quarters of a length.

O’Callaghan said: “She’s a lovely filly. She’s done everything that we’ve asked her. She learned a bit there today and Colin expects her to step forward again.

“She’s a filly and the lads are breeders, so we’ll obviously go and look for a bit of blacktype now. We’ll stick at six and something like the Bosra Sham. It’s a race we’ve been lucky in and it sticks out for me.”

JULIAN Pietropaolo, who recorded a double at Punchestown on Tuesday, was back in the winners’ enclosure when partnering Benavente to success in the Enjoy Racing TV With A Free Trial Now Apprentice Handicap.

Kevin Coleman’s gelding, who was sent off 14/1, led a furlong and a half out to record a length and three quarters win for owners H Redknapp, B Sheerin, D O’Donovan and Kim Coleman.

“It’s going well. That’s my third winner this week and I’m very pleased how things are going,” said Pietropaolo. “It makes life a lot easier when you get on horses as nice as him.

“This is only my second ride for Kevin, he was very straightforward with instructions and very easy to ride for. I can’t thank him enough for it. Hopefully now things start to pick up. I’m very pleased with how things are going at the moment.”

Harry breaks through

Send Harry gave Evanna McCutcheon a welcome winner when making the breakthrough in the Friday Night Lights Are Back At Dundalk Handicap. The Harry Angel gelding had been placed on his last three outings and went to post a 4/1 shot.

Patrick McGettigan hit the front two furlongs from home for a three parts of a length win in the colours of the Golden-Brown Syndicate. McCutcheon said: “He’s very immature, he’s a next year horse. Patrick said he just lobbed away there upsides and he was very good, there is a lot more to come from him I think. He acts on the surface and is taking his racing well. We’re looking forward to next year with him anyway.”

According to plan

The Andy Oliver-trained Sierra De Gredos (9/2) stayed on best under Gary Carroll to land the Bar One Better On Football Handicap.

Tracking the pace early on, the gelding came through to lead over a furlong out, before staying on to score by a length and a quarter in the trainers’ colours.

“He did it well, Gary gave him a lovely ride,” said Oliver. “Everything went to plan, he likes a sound surface. He has his own way of doing things. He likes top of the ground, so he’ll reappear wherever that is and we’ll stick to whatever grade we’re in.”

THE Matthew Smith-trained Cala Bonita recorded a second career victory when keeping on strongly under Robbie Colgan to take Division l of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap. Prominent from stalls, the 9/1 chance chased race leader Alumni Lia before coming through to lead early in the home straight. Staying on well close home, the Debbie Kelly-owned filly scored by a length and three-quarters.

“I thought she’d take a bit of beating, she was in great form at home,” said Smith. “We tried cheekpieces on her and they sharpened her up. Robbie said she might improve again, stepping up to a mile and a half. She’ll be going to the horses-in-training sale at Newmarket in October.”

In great nick

A three-time winner at the track, the Conor O’Dwyer-trained Barretstown took Division ll of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap. Sitting second for the first mile of the contest, Billy Lee came through to head leader Timana early in the home straight.

The 11/2 chance found plenty for pressure, keeping on well to win by a length and a quarter.

“He looked in great nick. He went to Clonmel last week and it was probably too soft for him,” said O’Dwyer. “We just freshened him up. He pitches up every year for one or two and pays his way. I wouldn’t mind another few more like him. The owners (Hugo and Anne Kane) only flew back from Italy and were in the airport tossing a coin about 6.40pm about whether they’d come and they didn’t. It’s not like them, but they are delighted.”

Successful debut

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Edward Hamilton made a winning racecourse debut when keeping on in determined fashion to take the concluding Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

Making much of the running, the 11/10 favourite was headed early in the straight, before rallying well to score by a length and a half for owners Peter Brant, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a horse that just took a little bit of time. Wayne (Lordan) gave him a lovely ride. He jumped and was professional enough, but he’s going to improve a ton. He’ll be able to go up to a mile and a half and will handle an ease in the ground.

“Maybe something like the Trigo Stakes in Leopardstown next month might suit him, give him a little bit of time between runs.

“I think he’s in the horses-in-training sale next month and we’ll try and get another run or two into him before.”