PADDY Harnett grabbed the lead in the apprentice title race, courtesy of a treble at Punchestown on Thursday.

Hot off the back of a brace at Dundalk the previous day, the 3lb-claimer went one better at the Kildare venue to move to 28 winners on the year, two ahead of rival Sam Coen.

The first came on the Ballydoyle colt Imposing and was his first winner for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

He was soon in front on the Wootton Bassett colt, who was joined after a couple of furlongs by Dawnmore.

The 7/2 shot kicked on turning for home and was always doing enough late on to post a length-and-a-half success over the staying-on 15/8 favourite Nonsense.

“Disregarding everything else, to ride a winner for Aidan and in these silks (Westerberg) as an apprentice, it’s unbelievable,” said Harnett.

“I do a small bit of riding out for him and I definitely think riding out in Ballydoyle has improved me. I’ve been a lot sharper since I started going in there.

“Imposing is a grand horse. Once I turned in and gave him a kick, he picked up and hit the line really well. Next year, I think he’ll probably stay further.”

Harnett went on to land both divisions of the concluding seven-furlong handicap on the card.

Second winner

Eddie and Patrick Harty supplied him with his second winner when Tai Tam Bay took the first leg of the 0-60 contest in the colours of Dan Kiely.

The New Bay filly also employed front-running tactics and had enough up in hand at the finish to score by a length and a quarter from Micasso.

Harty senior said of the 13/2 winner: “I wouldn’t say it was expected. She won well first time out at three, but it’s been a struggle since. She had good runs, but nothing like that.

“Paddy rang looking for the ride, so I said ‘go on, sit up on her’. When someone is riding real well, I just said ‘you do what you want’. It worked out lovely.”

A good day was wrapped up with victory on Buttermere Ridge for Oliver McKiernan in the finale.

The 11/2 shot claimed front-runner Master Garvey a furlong and a half down and stayed on stoutly to score by a length and a half from Miss Americana.

Harnett said after the victory: “It’s unbelievable, just things are happening. I’m getting on the right horses, that’s basically it, I suppose. Luck is on my side.

“I just can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been such a brilliant year. To ride a treble anywhere, at any stage of your career is special. I definitely won’t forget it.”

Brace for Ballydoyle two-year-olds

AIDAN O’Brien had a double of his own on the card as Petticoat Bay had earlier won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden under Jack Cleary.

The Frankel filly was to the fore throughout and stuck to her task gamely, when headed by San Juan De Lope passing the two pole.

She dug deep to get her head back in front late on for a neck success, at odds of 10/3.

Winning rider Cleary said: “She was tough. Still quite green out in front, but she got it done nicely.

“The previous run was a big help to her and the step up in trip as well.”

Hold-up winner

Lady Mary Heath was a rare hold-up winner on the day, when taking the mile handicap for Aidan Howard.

Chris Hayes had plenty to do on the well-backed 10/3 shot, when he switched for a run in rear under two furlongs from home.

The Dragon Pulse filly swept to the lead inside the final furlong to post a cosy two-and-a-half-length win.

Howard trains the winner for Claire Berry, wife of Frank Berry and mother of Fran, and he said: “It was great to get her to win before the end of the year. She handles that sort of ground and I’d say stepping up to a mile helped as well.”