SNELLEN, whose CV includes success at both Royal Ascot and in Bahrain, upset the odds to record a sixth career win in the featured BoyleSports Meld Stakes.

The Group 3 event was reduced to just four runners in the absence of Sparks Fly, Expanded (both due to going) and Shiota, who ran at Killarney the previous evening, and turned into quite a tactical affair.

Galen set the pace, but all of the quartet were still in contention early in the straight as the odds-on Purview was briefly denied a clear run.

Snellen, trained by Gavin Cromwell for Tim Porter, quickened up on the outer for Shane Foley to lead a furlong out as the favourite got through a gap to challenge. The pair were neck and neck inside the final 150 yards with the 16/1 shot keeping on gamely to just prevail by a short-head. “She ran well the last day in Royal Ascot, and it worked out lovely for her today in a small field. She likes taking her time and coming at them,” said Foley before adding, “She picked up better than I expected at the bottom of the straight and I said I may keep the momentum going.

“Colin (Keane, on Purview) was coming back at me late on, but she toughed it out well. It was a nice spare to pick up, but I’d say Gary (Carroll, suspended) will be back on her the next day!”

Evening doubles

Doubles were the order of the evening elsewhere on the card, with Colin Keane and Chris Hayes both partnering two winners and Noel Meade also saddling a brace.

Fairy Oak, a highly creditable fifth last time in the Albany at Royal Ascot, made all under Keane in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden and held off the challenge of Yellowstone Lake by a diminishing neck.

“She was entitled to win her maiden and Colin said she sharpened up plenty from Ascot. He thought after Ascot she wanted seven but said six was fine today,” said Michael O’Callaghan, who trains the 10/11 favourite for Al Watan Club.

“Colin said she’d be better on proper fast ground like it was in Ascot, and she’ll step back up into stakes company.”

CHAMPION jockey Colin Keane followed up later on the card aboard newcomer Heiselectric for Noel Meade in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Maiden.

The well-backed 7/2 chance quickened up on the outer to lead over a furlong out and kept on well to beat the odds-on Walk The Highline by two lengths.

“He had a stress crack that held him up and we didn’t get him out,” explained Noel Meade, who trains the colt for the Probably OK Partnership. “He’s never been away from home or been on grass before. He’s a lovely horse to do anything with and he’s never come off the bridle at home, so hopefully he stays right.”

Meade followed up in the Irish Champions Festival Handicap where 11/4 favourite Tatum responded gamely to a strong Chis Hayes drive to just get the better of a final furlong duel with Louiescall by a head.

“She’s a tough little thing. She cracked her pelvis as a three-year-old and missed most of the season. She stays well and likes that ground. They (The Peerless Partnership) are quite keen to go to Galway, so we’ll probably go there,” said Meade.

On a Bender

Hayes was also completing a double having earlier made virtually all aboard Glenanaar Syndicate’s Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

The 33/1 shot nearly threw away victory by swerving violently right in the closing stages, but Hayes kept the partnership intact to beat Joltin by a length and three-quarters.

Trainer Bill Durkin’s assistant Gary Bannon later confirmed the debut winner is for sale and said: “He always worked reasonably well and has got stronger since May. Chris said he just ducked near the line.

“We have the mare at home and it’s a nice family that goes back to Miss Beatrix and Miss Beabea.”

JOSEPH O’Brien holds Queen Of Hawaii in good regard and the 100/30 shot showed the benefit of her Curragh debut last month when asserting inside the final furlong for Dylan Browne McMonagle to beat Minerva by two and a half lengths in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden.

“She had a lovely run the first day in a strong maiden and we thought she would enjoy going a mile. We might go for the Debutante or stay at a mile,” said O’Brien. “I’m delighted to have a good filly for Philip Antonacci and his family and it’s nice to win a (€50,000) Goffs bonus as well. They are a great incentive for people to buy horses in Ireland and train them here.”

Dublin win

Part-owner and Dublin county footballer Ciaran Kilkenny was on hand to lead in Onemoredance after she recorded a third win this season in the Dublin To Bahrain Handicap.

The 9/4 favourite, who gained her previous two wins over a mile and one furlong at Tipperary, again showed her liking for this trip when quickening clear for Rory Mulligan early in the final furlong before holding off the late surge of Molto Amichi by a length and a quarter.

“At the start, she was a bit of a handful, but is really taking her work well now and behaving well. The guy that rides her out and leads her up, Modi, does a great job,” said trainer Johnny Murtagh.

“I’ve put her in here next week in a 0-100 handicap for three-year-olds only and we’ll see how she is over the next few days.”

Dug deep

Electric Beauty made virtually all under Wesley Joyce to land the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Apprentice Handicap for the Clearys Syndicate.

Vega’s Muse appeared the likely winner when challenging a furlong out, but the Mick Mulvany-trained 14/1 (from 20/1) chance dug deep in the closing stages to hold off that rival by a neck.

“It’s another filly that we bought out of Ken (Condon)’s, the same as Ina Mina, and she’s a work in progress. She still doesn’t know what it’s all about yet.

“She showed a bit of guts and battled on well when it looked like she was going to be passed,” said trainer Mick Mulvany.