DUNDALK-native Shane Gray savoured winning the Bar 1 Betting Group 3 Mercury Stakes aboard Washington Heights on a flying visit back to Co Louth.

Gray, who has been plying his trade as a jockey in England for many years, rode the 5/2 favourite for Kevin Ryan and the pair were well in touch in this five-furlong sprint.

They came through to lead at the furlong pole and ran on well to hold Ryan’s second-string, Ain’t Nobody, by a neck for Hambleton Racing Ltd XXVII.

Gray said: “Great to be home! Probably one of my favourite winners ever really. My hometown, and all my family here, and they don’t often get to support me.

“The surface was the thing, but Kevin was very happy with him. He had him the best he was all year.

“He jumped and travelled really well. He had a look when he got there and when Kevin’s other horse came to me, he went on again.”

Gamble landed

There was a significant gamble landed on Surpass And Shine in the Braham Electrical Handicap over six furlongs.

With a string of ‘duck eggs’ beside his name, he was available at 33/1 in the morning, however, his price tumbled down to 4/1.

Robyn Donaghue-Leahy did the steering on Pat Flynn’s charge and positioned him in the box seat behind Sovereign Banter.

She let him go on after two furlongs, and he stayed on well to score by a length and three-quarters in the colours of Mrs Patrick J. Flynn.

The jockey said: “He has only had the one run up here and he was third in a maiden, so we knew he handled the surface. He’s down to a career-low mark.

“We planned to take our time, but he pinged them (gates) and he settled away in front, so I thought I was just leave him there. He did it the tough way and he did it well.”

Successful debut

Money also came for Bobardi ahead of her debut in the EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Smullen Series) over a mile, and the support proved to be shrewd.

Johnny Murtagh’s Sottsass filly was backed down to 2/1 favourite and Ben Coen had her tracking the pace throughout.

She was sent on a furlong down and saw the trip out well by a length and a quarter from Final Ascent for JP Murtagh Racing.

Coen said: “A big, good-moving filly and handled that surface really well. She has been doing things nicely at home without being asked any questions.

“She has been straightforward with anything you do with her. She’s bred to get 10 (furlongs), so nice to see her win over a mile - shows they have good ability.”

BEACH Barbie served up a 20/1 surprise in the Fillies Optional Claiming Race over seven furlongs.

From fourth entering the straight, James Ryan guided her to the front a furlong out and the four-year-old filly was full of running as she opened up from Near Perfection by four and a half lengths.

Eddie Lynam said: “I should have upped her to seven (furlongs) before now. She had run so well over five and six, I stuck to that. The cheekpieces definitely sharpened her as well. We badly needed it; it is good to get one.”

This was her breakthrough success in first-time cheekpieces for owners Lynam and Trevor Dalzell.

The winner was claimed by Aileen Lynam to be trained by Eddie Lynam, while fourth-placed River Trieux was claimed by Varland Syndicate to be trained by Denis Hogan.

Sixth career win

Mehman posted his sixth career success, and first since January last year, in the Apprentice Handicap over seven furlongs.

The 3/1 favourite was prominent under Paddy Harnett who guided him to the front two furlongs out. He asserted approaching the final furlong and rolled home two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Shoot To Kill for owner Maureen Hehir.

Pat Murphy said: “We were hoping this lad would do things right today. He jumped better than the last day and we were able to dictate our own fractions.

“The pace wasn’t that mad which suited and they were able to kick off the bend. He obviously is a better horse up here, so we might keep him going for the next three or four weeks, or three or four runs maybe.”

APRIL Mist (7/2) enjoyed her first visit to the Polytrack landing the Fastfix Quay Celtic 60th Nursery Handicap over the minimum trip. Gary Carroll settled her close to the pace before improving to lead at the furlong pole and racing in by two lengths from Premier View for Ger Lyons and Woodridge Stables Limited.

Carroll said: “Race set up lovely today, the pace was strong and I was drawn in enough that I could get in behind them. At the minute, she is a five-furlong specialist just because she is racing for me. If she learns to relax, she will get the six.”

Drummond Hill increased his sales value when winning the Des Byrne Memorial Maiden for trainer Jessica Harrington and owner Kate Harrington. The 11/2 shot made headway for Shane Foley to dispute the lead a furlong down and soon led, keping on best to see off Heriot’s Hope by half a length.

Foley said: “He worked nicely up here in the spring. He was a bit slow to come, bit of maturing, he grew a bit and turned into a big horse. He had a lovely run up here the last day, he stepped forward, and he’s going to make a nice four-year-old for someone. He’s in the Horses in Training Sale [not sold].”