JAMES Doyle produced a leading contender for ‘ride of the meeting’, when making all aboard Arabian Crown (11/1) in the Group 3 World Pool Bet With The Tote Kilternan Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s dual group winner quickened off the bend and held off numerous challenges under Doyle’s urgings, asserting inside the final 110 yards.

The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths, with Sons And Lovers, claiming runner-up honours. The 6/5 favourite, Purview (6/5f) was one of a number to finish strongly from the back, but could only manage third.

Following the Godolphin-owned five-year-old’s fifth stakes success, Appleby commented: “James knows the horse well. The last he rode him was at Newmarket, when he led and was run down by Rebel’s Romance, so he lost nothing in defeat there.

“The horse came here fresh and well, he looked great and he just got on with the job. James got the fractions right out in front, and it was a great ride.”

Quddwah a cut above

Doyle was aboard the highest rated of seven in the Tonybet Solonaway Stakes and Quddwah won as such, winning by a comfortable length and a half.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s raider was having his first start since chasing home Ombudsman in the Dubai Turf in late March, but the market was undeterred by his break, given the multiple group winner’s superiority and history of running well fresh.

Sent off the even-money favourite, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s six-year-old entire tracked the leader, Audience, and was ridden a furlong out. The son of Kingman ran on well to beat the longtime leader by a length and a half, with the same margin back to Charles Fort.

After winning the Group 2 for a second time, having scored with Jadoomi in 2022, Ed Crisford commented: “He had a busy season in Dubai and we gave him a summer break. This was the first proper opportunity for him, with no penalties for his Group 2 wins in Dubai.

“He was a bit rusty between the three pole and the two, but he finished really well. There is maybe a Group 2 in France for him or Grade 1 races in America next. He is a really solid horse.”

GER Lyons enjoyed a perfect start to the weekend, when Maire Rua (5/2) stayed on well to take the opening Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes, the fourth time Lyons had the listed race for juvenile fillies.

Juddmonte’s full-sister to group winner and Group 1 third Red Letter made a winning debut over course and distance in July, before finishing third when sent off favourite for a listed race at Cork, where Colin Keane reported she had been hampered at the start. She was among the market leaders on Saturday, with Willie McCreery’s eight-and-a-half-length debut winner Timeless Tale sent off favourite on her first start over the trip.

Keane positioned Maire Rua behind the favourite in midfield and it was Billy Lee’s mount who led after the furlong pole, but Maire Rua finished strongest, with the Frankel filly appearing to outstay the Sioux Nation rival close home, getting up to win by half a length.

Snowing finished another length and a half back in third under Pierre Charles-Boudot, who was suspended for two racedays after using his whip above shoulder height.

Keane later commented that the winning grey would improve with racing and, on future plans, Lyons said: “The ideal thing will be to go Group 3, Group 2, Group 1 with her and see where the ceiling is. She needs experience between now and end of the season. I would love to find a Group 3 next with a view to next year.”

Holohan shines

Lyons had to wait longer for Krasimir to get off the mark, as the David Spratt and Lynne Lyons-owned three-year-old won his maiden after six placed efforts, and the Mehmas gelding has progressed since to place at Galway and York, before landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap.

As well as being a career-best for Krasimir, it’s also a highlight for star apprentice Reese Holohan, who claimed 7lb and delivered the bay late to deny Charlie Fellowes’ Vafortino by a head. “That is definitely the highlight of my career so far,” the delighted winning rider said. “I had an injury during the summer and I was out for six weeks, but it’s great to be back and riding a winner on a day like this.”

L L Koulsty’s rider Rory Mulligan received a one-day suspension for moving across before the marker poles.

THE word Immutable means unchanging or impossible to change, which may have struck a chord with Joe Murphy while the trainer endured a challenging wait for his first win of the season.

Before Lord Massusus delivered an overdue win at Galway, Murphy had gone close in the Cork Derby and the valuable Guinness Handicap with a horse named Immutable, who was seeking his first win since March 2024. Thankfully, the curse of his name lifted at Leopardstown, as he landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap by a neck under Luke McAteer.

The Gerard Kervick-owned six-year-old broke from the outside stall and raced prominently in an outside position but took time in the straight to find top gear, keeping on close home to deny Yousaynothingatall.

“He’s a fantastic horse,” Murphy commented. “He has a screw in a pastern and we gave him a year and a half off, but it never took from his ability.

“Now he gets into the Cesarewitch, so that’s another plan. The one thing I do have in mind for him is the Hurdle in Galway next year. I’ll have two pillows to dream on! It’s wonderful to have a winner on Champions Weekend.”

WILLIE McCreery gained some compensation for finishing second in the opener, when Rebel Wave (7/1) completed a hat-trick of wins in the ninth and final race on the card, the World Pool Bet With Tote Autumn Fillies Handicap.

The Valmont and Ballylinch Stud-owned three-year-old won her previous two starts by a head and a neck, meaning that the patiently-ridden filly remained on a comfortable mark of 82 when stepping up to an extended mile.

Drawn on the rail, the daughter of New Bay was positioned in midfield by Ben Coen and delivered late, once again, as she ran down the rallying leaders to score by half a length from Chica Guerrera under a double-seeking Reese Holohan.

McCreery was away in Woodbine, where Jancis was beaten a neck in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes, leaving it to Ballylinch’s John O’Connor to debrief the press.

“She’s a nice, progressive filly,” he said. “She was a very good-looking yearling; she took quite a bit of time to settle mentally - these chaps over here (Ballylinch team) did a lot of work with her - they deserve to be here today.

“Willie’s done a lovely job with her, she’s progressing all the time and Ben gave her a super ride today. Willie believes she’ll be able to go up to stakes level; hopefully she will, but in the meantime, if she keeps doing that, we’ll be happy.”