COLIN Keane secured a double on the Polytrack when 4/7 favourite Ocean’s Breath readily got off the mark in the Dundalk Stadium Open All Summer Maiden over six furlongs.

Keane soon had the Bated Breath colt tracking and, from second halfway, they grabbed the lead a furlong and a half out. The favourite asserted in the final furlong and ran on by three lengths, for trainer Ger Lyons.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “He was very professional and we are delighted for Vincent and Geraldine (Gaul). They are great supporters of the yard.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race and see what mark he gets - that will tell us the route he will go. Colin says that he attacked that ground well and he is a very good mover.”

Follow the leader

Keane was also successful on 6/4 favourite An Laochmor in the opening Sunday 12th July Ladies Day At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Again, Keane had eyes on front-running Bye Bye Now and An Laochmor joined her with a quarter of a mile to race. The ‘jolly’ led a furlong and a half down and kept on well in the closing stages to hold Jordan Breeze by half a length for A.P. Challoner.

Trainer Danny Murphy said: “We were in Lingfield and had a bit of fun with him, and he won well. Oisin McSweeney said to me that he’s better from behind.

“Colin said to me that Siobhan (Rutledge, Bye Bye Now) will probably go to the front and that he would track her. He will (travel again) and he might even run on the grass. He’s a well-handicapped horse really.”

DONNACHA O’Brien enjoyed a one-two in the Bar 1 Betting ‘Great App, No Joke’ Fillies Maiden as 6/5 favourite Emmeleia got the better of Eretria.

The pair were nicely clear of the field at the business end, and it was Emmeleia who narrowly headed Eretria inside the furlong marker. Gavin Ryan kept her up to her work to fend off her stablemate by three-parts of a length for Skara Glen Stables.

O’Brien said: “She’s a nice filly and we thought this trip would suit her well, plenty of stamina in the pedigree. I think she has improved. They pulled well clear of the third which is a good sign. They have been working together at home, and I thought they were both working nicely.”

Sixth success

Clonmacash rang up his sixth career victory in the Put The Fun Into Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap over six furlongs. Sam Coen settled the five-year-old gelding behind the leaders and, despite the 9/1 chance being hampered two furlongs out, he stayed on to close a furlong out.

In a bunch finish, he came home best to lead in the final 50 yards and took the honours by half a length for Mark Devlin, J. Mackle and Skylark Racing Syndicate.

Ado McGuinness said: “He doesn’t always start well, but he does put his best foot forward late on. He’s a very solid, fun horse and he was very unlucky here with Adam (Caffrey, last month). That was a good race, and Sam gets on well with him. The 5lb off certainly helped.”

STONE Bear (13/2) and Siobhan Rutledge teamed up to claim the six-furlong New Saddle Bar At Dundalk Handicap for owner John Bowden.

The pair scored over the same trip at Dundalk in January and the same winning margin of a length and three-quarters was posted again.

Stone Bear travelled well and took closer order two furlongs down. Rutledge soon brought her with her challenge, and she got on terms at the furlong pole. Nothing came home better than her, though, as she led in the closing and finished well.

Ross O’Sullivan said: “The last day she ran over seven (furlongs) which didn’t suit her and she had a terrible draw on the outside. She ran just too free and didn’t settle whereas today a good draw in six, bit of cover over six furlongs.

“She’s progressive, and she is quick, and probably could get a little bit quicker. There is a race in a month’s time here back to five (furlongs), three-year-old only, so we wouldn’t rule that out.”

Close finish

The 40-rated Alto Sax didn’t go unbacked at 12/1 for the Dundalk Stadium Group Deals Available Apprentice Handicap. The race boiled down to a match between the leader Alto Sax and 18/5 favourite Kitty Bear in a close second a furlong out.

The pair were clear of the remainder and it was Alto Sax and Nicola Burns who just prevailed by a short head at the line for the Normal People Partnership.

Peter Fahey said: “He ran plenty over the winter and just was falling short. He’s after dropping down to a nice mark now. Nicola is a great rider and she is very strong in the likes of those races, so it is great to get her.

“With him, I think things just have to fall his way. He’s probably not one that battles and makes things happen. He’ll tip away at turf.”

Making all

Owner Seamus Ross saw his Sir Callisto (4/1) make all in the hands of Robbie Colgan to land the View Restaurant Summer Offer Handicap.

Colgan drove him home by a length and a quarter to the delight of trainer Tony Martin who said: “It was a lovely run the last night (third, Dundalk) and he has just stepped up.

“When you are working with men like Robbie Colgan and Colin Keane, it is great. Robbie is not in one of those high-profile jobs, but he’s an absolute top-class rider. It is great to be able to have the likes of him on board. It is great for Seamus, a long time in the game and he deserves a bit of luck.”