JOCKEY Billy Lee’s charge towards a first title continued apace with a sparkling treble on the Polytrack last Friday.
Andy Oliver’s Enchanted Lady delivered at 11/2 in the extended 10-furlong handicap for three-year-olds and upwards rated up to 70.
Lee had her tracking the leaders and she was produced to collar Felix Somary inside the final furlong before going on by three-quarters of a length for owner Francis Campbell.
Oliver said: “We kind of waited until we got this with the all-weather up and running again. This race popped up, so we were quietly confident.
“Touch wood I would be delighted to see, and delighted to be a part of, Billy Lee winning the championship, because he does deserve it. If it does work out that way, it will not be a surprise.”
Strong finish
Lee conjured up a strong finish from Ken Condon’s Heart Of You (16/1) in the James Crowe 1 Year Memorial Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs.
The Lucky Vega filly raced towards the rear, but was last off the bridle inside the final quarter of a mile. She made headway between horses a furlong down and rattled in to get up by half a length close home for owner David Kelly.
Lee said: “I felt we were going a good gallop and rode for a bit of luck then, just came up through the middle of them, thought I might get placed. When I got in the clear, she picked up really well and she hit the line well.”
Woolley rewards patience
Sedro Woolley (11/2) got the better of 11/4 favourite Go Out in the first divide of the seven-furlong handicap.
The four-year-old gelding was guided into contention racing into the final couple of furlongs and Lee sent him into the lead passing the furlong pole.
He kept on well to fend off Go Out by half a length for South House Stud, Estate of Noel Murphy.
Willie McCreery said: “Sheryl Watson from South House Stud has been very patient with him and we have just taken our time and it paid off.
“He needs good ground, so we’ll see what the handicapper does and come back up here again.”
Go Out’s jockey Terry Casey picked up an eight-day ban over a careless-riding incident with Una Matata.
FIREWALKER (15/8 favourite) made virtually all in the six-furlong maiden to strike on his second start for Robson de Aguiar.
Placed once from four starts in Britain for Kevin Philippart de Foy, he showed promise when runner-up on Irish debut at Dundalk last month.
Donagh O’Connor was in the plate this time and asked Firewalker to go and win his race in the final furlong. The grey son of Kingman rolled home by two and a half lengths for Amo Racing Limited.
“He has a good strong frame, and you would hope he would progress from that,” the jockey said.
“I knew he would get through the line well, Robson said he would stay that trip well.”
Jazzit made the breakthrough at 11/2 in a thrilling finish to the second split of the seven-furlong handicap.
James Ryan held him up in rear and they progressed to fourth at the furlong marker. Ryan drove him on to challenge the leader Boston Max in the closing stages and the pair got the verdict by a short head for the THW Syndicate.
Tom McCourt said: “I’d say he has got stronger now. Over six, when you ask him to quicken, his head came back and he started rolling around. He looked ungenuine, but I’d say he is very genuine. He just needs that trip and to settle into things.”
Colin Keane completes double
BILLY Lee’s closest pursuer in the title race, Colin Keane, was another jockey with multiple winners on the card. The first leg of his double came up on 2/1 favourite Ocean’s Breath in the Bar 1-sponsored handicap over seven furlongs.
He began to motor in third approaching the final furlong and worked his way past Valiant Force in the closing stages to land the spoils by half a length.
Ger Lyons said: “We had him sold before Champions (Weekend) and the guy didn’t come up and pay for him. It was just very disappointing, but the horse has never let them down.
“It is nice to see him come back and repay Vincent and Geraldine (Gaul) for their patience.”
Hygge hits target
Gordon Elliott’s Hygge (13/2) was a ready winner of the extended 10-furlong handicap for three-year-olds and upwards rated up to 90.
Keane took closer order into the straight and sent his partner about his business with more than a furlong to travel. The four-year-old gelding responded and strode in by two and three-quarter lengths for the Sundowners Syndicate.
Keane said: “The last day (in Ascot) didn’t go to plan at all. He kind of boiled over and a little bit keen - it was messy and we didn’t go any pace, and it kind of turned into a sprint.
“He’s a horse who handles that surface well and he could be a horse for those all-weather finals days next year.”
Fury prevails
Tyson Fury was the highest-rated horse by a considerable margin in the IrishInjuredJockeys.com Apprentice Optional Claiming Race and justified 9/4 favouritism in owner Mary Hogan’s colours.
The nine-year-old gelding, with a mark of 85, was settled in mid-division by Mel Sheridan and the pair loomed large in the final quarter of a mile. Sheridan drove him on in the final furlong and he kept up the gallop to hold fast-finishing Autocrat by half a length.
Denis Hogan said: “On paper, you would expect him to do that, but he’s nearly 10 and he’s had a few issues over the years.
“It is great to get a win for him, but it is brilliant for these horses that they have somewhere to run.”
The winner was claimed by Shauna Kelly to be trained by Noel Kelly.