THE Aidan O’Brien-trained Endorsement landed the featured Listed King George V Cup. Making all under Ryan Moore over the mile-and-a-half trip, the Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Westerberg-owned 1/4 favourite scored impressively by seven lengths from stablemate Amadeus Mozart.

Of the Wootton Bassett-sired three-year-old, O’Brien remarked: “We were thinking of whether he’d be a Vase horse or whatever, so it’s possible he could be. We didn’t know how far he’d stay. A mile and a quarter is as far as he’s gone.

“He could be a Vase horse; could be a King Edward horse. Ryan was very happy with him. His form is solid and it was nice to see him running well anyway (given his form with Derby horses).”

’Raw as hell’

Trainer Ger Lyons dominated the following three races with a treble on the evening. Three-year-old newcomer My Girl Grace initiated the haul when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden under Gary Carroll.

Sent off 9/2, the Austin Whelan-owned daughter of Ghaiyyath led inside the final furlong to record a one-and-a-quarter-length success from Bang Bang.

“She is raw as hell and I told the owner ‘she is going to be lovely’,” said Lyons. “I doubt she’ll ever run over 10 (furlongs) again after tonight. She’ll be wanting further, but it’s a nice place to start over 10 and we’ll see where it gets us.

“I’d say the rain that’s fallen and the ground actually came in our favour. You’d love how she went through from A to B all the way, and from the winning post to the pulling up was the most impressive part of it.

“I’d say we’ll be going straight to 12 (furlongs) and hopefully she’s better than a maiden.

“My first Ghaiyyath, the jury was out with me with the sire, but he was winning everywhere else. This is the first one I’ve had and you couldn’t but be positive about her.”

THREE-year-old How’sthebai made most under Colin Keane to double up for Ger Lyons in the mile-and-one Boyle Sports ‘Home Of The Early Payout’ Handicap over a mile and one furlong.

Sent off 5/2 favourite, the Sean Jones-owned Bated Breath gelding kept on well to score by a length and three-quarters from Monvoe.

“That was grand. The only question mark was the ground,” said Lyons. “He’s a lovely horse; I love him. He’s a lovely big, honest horse. I’ve been very lucky with the sire, Bated Breath. As Colin said, the form of his last race was there with winners all around him. So we knew we had him in the right race, but we were worried about the ground. He got through it.”

Gary Carroll registered a double on the card when bringing up the Lyons treble aboard four-year-old Daler in the Boyle Sports Best Odds From 8am Handicap.

Sent off 12/1, the David Spratt and Sean Jones-owned Dark Angel gelding led inside the final furlong before powering clear for a two-and-a-quarter-length verdict over 5/1 joint-favourite Molto Amichi.

“Of all the horses coming tonight, I would have said he won’t handle the soft,” said Lyons. “I said to Gary ‘have we ever ran him on soft?’ ‘cause it’s always been Dundalk and better ground. It’s great.

“It’s like everything in racing, you see yards can’t do right for doing wrong and, next thing, I don’t know what it is, but we’ll make the most of it.”

BLONDE Over Blue made a winning introduction for Joseph O’Brien in the opening seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Owned by Oxley/O’Connor and Ballyhimikin, the 6/1 Lope De Vega two-year-old was ridden prominently, and stayed on best when pressed by 2/1 joint-favourite Alpha who had dwelt at the start, to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I’m delighted with that, she is a nice filly. It was a strong maiden here in Leopardstown, of course,” said O’Brien of the 400,000gns Tattersalls October purchase. “She got a lovely position, found the line well and you’d be excited about her future.

“I suppose the plan would be either the Chesham in Ascot or come back here for the Silver Flash Stakes later in the summer. We’ll see how she pulls up, and discuss it with Mr Oxley and the ownership group.”

Weld’s winner

Dermot Weld was amongst the winners, after 9/1 chance Bella Isabella survived a stewards’ enquiry to take the seven-furlong Boyle Sports Apprentice Handicap.

Sam Coen did just enough on the Moyglare Stud Farm-owned filly, when engaged in a battle to the line from a furlong out with Playin Cool. Despite giving and receiving a few bumps, the Wootton Bassett four-year-old just held the advantage by a nose.

“She did that well and got a very good ride from Sam,” said Weld. “The second horse just came over a little bit to join her and Sam had run straight.

“Then it was kind of six of one, half a dozen of the other just going to the line, if you know what I mean, in that testing ground.

“She battled very well and I’m delighted to win with her. There is a hundred grand handicap in Cork, over that distance, in a few weeks’ time and I think that’s where she’ll run next.”

Making all

Only One Scobie made all under Luke McAteer to get off the mark at the eighth time of asking in the concluding Leopardstown Premier Lounge Handicap over a mile.

Trained by Paul Flynn, the three-year-old 25/1 chance by Galileo Gold stayed on well inside the final furlong for a five-length success from Cosmic Funk.

“Just the ground, I think,” said Flynn of the Maydon Partnership-owned gelding’s improved form. “He got a fright in front and he kept going. He had a good run in Gowran on soft ground.”