TEN-horse trainer Kevin Smith registered his first career double at Limerick on Wednesday, where six-time champion jockey Colin Keane gave his title credentials a boost with a treble.

Keane concluded his hat-trick haul by providing Smith with his first success of the day with Java Wood (6/1) in the mile handicap, scoring for owner/breeder Peadar Kelly.

The six-year-old raced in mid-field and stayed on well to lead in the closing stages, scoring by a length and a quarter from Mythical Rock. Smith, who led up both his winners, later reported: “He had recent form on ground which wasn’t ideal and over distances which were too short, and I’ve been waiting for today’s ground for a while.

“Colin said he was quite green still, so there could be a bit more to him, and also said he’s the type of horse who could jump a hurdle in time.”

An hour later, Smith scored with the Chris Hayes-partnered Unfamiliar (7/1) in the second division of the seven furlongs handicap. Carrying the colours of owner Kevin Smith senior, Unfamiliar was an all-out winner and held on to score by a nose from faster-finishing Concaire.

Delighted Smith said: “She is a grand filly and, like my earlier winner, I’ve been waiting for soft ground for her. I knew the ground had been too quick for her, so was waiting to see what she’d do on soft.

“My father owns this filly and, while I have 10 horses at the moment, unfortunately, I don’t really have any paying owners as they are home-owned.

“Both Peadar (Kelly) and my dad are my two owners, so I’d love to get more, but it is very hard to attract new ones. To be honest, I just don’t know what to do or how to get new owners. I’m based in Kilmessan, Co Meath.”

The winner, a brother to smart stablemate Red Letter, stretched clear to score by six lengths from Stable Lane, with Lyons reporting: “Sometimes you can get carried away with the pedigrees so the horses have this weight on their shoulders, so I just wanted to place this one to tick the maiden box, and to stop thinking of him as a good horse.

“At the minute, he is just a ‘horse’ and he did this the way you’d expect him to do it.

“A mile is a good fit for him and he is very much a work in progress. We’ll see how he goes, but it will be baby steps until he proves otherwise.”

Cody double

Keane had earlier collected in the day’s opening mile and three-furlong optional claimer, when providing trainer Ray Cody with the opening leg of a double, with Merlin The Wizard (9/4).

Merlin The Wizard went unclaimed at €15,000 following his length and a quarter success over Taj Crown, with Cody commenting: “The owners decided that we’d go back to a claimer to try and get his head in front and it mightn’t have been the worst race in the world.

“The trip was obviously a worry, but I thought after the last day, at the Curragh over a mile, he looked to be on his head all the way.

“Colin said he got the trip no bother there, which is great as it opens a few more options.

“I’m delighted for his owners Lorna Honan and her husband Chris Fennessy, while his other owner Ronnie Quinn didn’t make it, as he unfortunately got stuck in traffic.”

Excellent form

Cody completed his double in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Memorial Handicap with Monvoe (6/4 favourite), which continued his excellent form for owner Claire O’Donovan. Successful at today’s course in April and at Leopardstown in May, Monvoe had finished second just last Thursday and today, under regular rider Reese Holohan, finished well to score by a half length from Earls.

Cody reported: “Monvoe has really turned the corner this year, as he was a nightmare last year.

“He had been free and wasn’t racing properly, but for some reason with a winter under his belt, he has come back a different horse and is racing properly.

“Darren Dwyer bought him and fair play to him, as I’m lucky to have such a lovely horse. I entered him for a mile and a furlong €100,000 three-year-old handicap at the Curragh on Derby Day and he’ll go there next.”

TRAINER Paul Fahey registered another timely recent success with Our Lucky Lady (15/8 favourite), who landed the concluding two miles, one furlong handicap under jockey Jessica O’Gorman.

Racing keenly, the Loose Chippings Syndicate-owned Our Lucky Lady pulled her way to the front at halfway and held on well in the home straight to score by a length and a quarter from Mr Rango.

Afterwards, Fahey revealed: “My daughter Emma is marrying Daniel in Athy on Friday and, some time ago, I said we’d better get something towards the cost of the wedding. We got this filly to win the last day and Emma said to run her again, so this will help towards some part of it!

“Our Lucky Lady is quite keen at home and was very buzzy in the yard here, so she was very keen today. We had hoped to hold her up, but in fairness to Jessica, she got hold of her going up the hill, which was important, as if you bolt going up a hill you’re in bother.”

Wesley wins

Local rider Wesley Joyce combined with his employer, trainer Mick Mulvany, to win the opening division of the seven furlongs handicap with Imnotleavinyou (15/2), who quickened well in the final furlong to score for the Heads Or Harps Syndicate. Mulvany reported: “Imnotleavinyou was second three times and I thought the last day we rode her a little wrong, as we forced her a little early. She has plenty of gears, so we decided we’d ride her different tonight. We have her declared for Friday night and we’ll probably run her as she’s in good form.

“Her owners are from all over, and one is actually from Limerick, but is on holidays in Spain. There are groups from Dublin and Mayo as well, and they are good decent lads.”

Ready success

Well-backed Lord Aus (100/30 - 15/8 favourite) provided trainer Johnny Murtagh with a first success for owner Homely Equines Ltd in the mile and three furlong handicap, scoring readily under jockey Ben Coen.

Racing prominently throughout, Lord Aus held on well to score comfortably from Point Cartwright.

Murtagh mentioned: “Lord Aus was very small and narrow at the start of the year, so he took a bit of organising. He was fresh and messing in the stalls the last day, but is getting it together now.

“He is bred to stay and he stayed on well at Down Royal, so I think a mile and a half is a good trip for him.

“He won like I thought he would, as he improved from last week. I won’t be in any rush with him and it is great to have a horse in training for Homely Equines, and it is their first winner with me.”