COLIN Keane made a decisive early move on Geryon in Leopardstown’s feature, the Boyle Sports Meld Stakes, and it proved to be the winning of the Group 3 contest over a mile and a furlong.

The well-backed 11/10 favourite, owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm, was slowest from stalls and Keane quickly assessed that the pace up front was slower than desired, so put his foot on the gas to take up the running after a furlong and a half.

The grey son of Lope De Vega didn’t see another rival after that and kicked away in the straight to beat Cowardofthecounty by three and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Ger Lyons said: “He was unlucky in Navan and then got blocked in the Curragh. If you look at him, a big, strapping, strong horse, he needed to grow up and he did.

“Colin just said ‘come on, let’s do it’ and I thought that was a good performance, but no more than we expected.”

Second win

Marmeladova, owned by the Newell family’s Readsland Racing, recorded the second win of her career in the Mervue Equine Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

The 3/1 chance was behind the leaders and travelling like a winner early in the straight.

Perhaps conscious that she didn’t want to be in front too long, Billy Lee went up a few blind alleys before producing the daughter of Inns Of Court to lead 100 yards out for a neck verdict over Blackjack Hills.

Winning trainer Ken Condon said: “She has to be ridden for a bit of luck and I was half-slagging Billy on the way in, that he went too soon! As he says himself, she seems to like just getting in behind and having something different happening.

“She quickened up well, and then seemed to think she had enough done.

“She’s a home-bred and that’s important for the Newell family.”

Star Of State is impressive

THERE were three juvenile maidens on the Leopardstown card and Joseph O’Brien and stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle won them all, beginning with 1/3 favourite Star Of State in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden, over six and a half furlongs.

After finishing second at Fairyhouse last week, Jaber Abdullah’s filly proved to be in a different league to her 10 rivals, making virtually all to thrash Not You Too by nine lengths. It was a second winner (first in Ireland) for State Of Rest, who stands at Rathbarry Stud.

Impressive

“You don’t really see more impressive maiden winners than that,” said O’Brien. “I’m delighted for State Of Rest and for Mr Jaber, it’s our first winner for him.

“Mr Jaber mentioned that we might go to the Lowther next month, so I suppose we’ll see how she pulls up and then make those plans.”

Next up was Ballyskeagh (7/4 favourite), who had a much harder time of things in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over seven furlongs.

In a three-way tussle to the line, Annemarie O’Brien’s Gleneagles filly had a half a length and a nose to spare over Star Glory and Sea Of Rain.

“Dylan just said she still felt quite green and immature,” said the winning trainer.

“At the same time, he couldn’t fault her from a wide draw. You’d like to think that she’ll have no trouble going a mile in time.”

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile saw Bellesque (1/1 favourite) round off the O’Brien treble as the champion jockey made virtually all on Eimear Irwin and Sue Magnier’s daughter of St Mark’s Basilica. The winner raced professionally and scored by three-parts of a length from promising newcomer So Lovely.

“She had a nice debut here and did it well tonight. I thought Dylan got to control the race lovely, and she’s a nice filly.”

Parsons gains praiseworthy win

THE Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Apprentice Handicap, over seven furlongs, saw Ardadslosttheplot (7/1) come from off the pace to provide rider Rebecca Parsons with her first winner.

Switched to the outer early in the straight, the three-year-old bay, owned by Amy and Olivia Marnane, picked up really well under a hand ride to beat front-runner Dynamic Force by two and three-quarter lengths.

Winning trainer David Marnane said: “Rebecca’s a great kid. She’s with me a year and a half at this stage.”

“She’s well able to ride and is some value for 10lb. We’ll be using her a bit. The filly had a good run over five furlongs at Naas. She’s going the right way and looks like she could even step up in trip.”

Slattery Galway plans

Trainer Andrew Slattery was on the mark with Curragh maiden winner Loughrea (10/3) in the Dublin To Bahrain Handicap over a mile.

Owned by John and Claire Holohan, the Elzaam gelding led early in the straight under Andrew Slattery to beat Aviatrice by half a length.

“We held him up today, just to learn a bit. I entered him in the Galway Mile there yesterday and that’s where we’ll go, I’d say,” said the winning trainer.

The Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap, over one mile, five furlongs, went to 3/1 joint-favourite Cooley’s Mist in the hands of Chris Hayes.

Ciara McGee’s home-bred son of Churchill made virtually all to hold Ob La Di by three-parts of a length.

Winning trainer Harry Rogers said: “He prefers a little bit of ease. Maybe two miles in Galway could be a possibility, if he gets an ease.

“If it doesn’t rain, he won’t be going anywhere. Chris was good on him, I have to say.”