JOSEPH O’Brien bagged a double at Roscommon on Monday as Dylan Browne McMonagle moved six clear in the jockeys’ title race. The pair teamed up for success in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race as Summer Is Tomorrow proved a rather ironically-named winner on a wet and blustery start to proceedings.

Browne McMonagle produced the 7/4 favourite with a strong run to lead a furlong from home and the Michael Burke-owned colt stuck on well to beat Red Autumn by three-parts of a length.

“He’s an improving horse and we always thought he would handle slow ground and today was the first time that he’s actually got it,” the winning rider said.

“Once I angled him out, he took a furlong to get into top gear, but from the furlong pole home, he was good and he hit the line well. I think over a nice mile on a good track he’ll be even better.”

Viking in command

Declan McDonogh was on board for the other leg of the Carriganóg brace as Viking Invasion landed the Lecarrow Race in the colours of Mark Dobbin.

The Mehmas gelding fought it out with In Me Teens from a furlong out and the 7/1 winner had to survive a stewards’ enquiry after drifting right and giving his rival a bump before recording a neck success.

“He loved the ground,” said stable representative Michael Halford. “We’ll see where he goes now, he’ll probably be gone out of handicaps. It looks like he’s still progressive.”

LAST year’s champion apprentice James Ryan was also on the scoresheet twice, courtesy of Selective Power and Sea Lantern. The former led home a one-two for trainer Thomas Coyle in the Elphin Handicap over seven furlongs.

Ryan produced the well-backed 11/2 shot to lead a furlong and a half from home and soon asserted for a seven-and-a-half length win over stablemate Manhattan Dandy.

“It worked out very well, we couldn’t have planned it any better!” said Coyle. “Ground is a big thing for him, he takes a few runs and the cheekpieces were back on.

“It’s my dad’s (Paul) syndicate (Urban and Rural Boys). He was sick last year and this horse boosted him up no end. They’ve had this syndicate for 20 years ago.”

Ryan follows up

Ryan struck again later on the card when Sea Lantern powered home late on to land the mile-and-a-half maiden in the colours of Mrs Clodagh McStay. The Jack Davison-trained gelding came to dispute inside the final furlong and the 10/1 shot got on top close home for a length-and-three-quarters victory over Simurgh.

“You’d imagine he’ll keep on improving,” said Davison. “He’s not too hard on himself and you never know where these horses end up.

“I trained the full-sister, Fresnel. She was one of my first winners and the McStays have been very good to me, very supportive.”

ADMIRABLE veteran Earls bounced back to winning ways on his preferred soft ground when taking the Lidan Handicap. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding went to post a 9/1 shot in the seven-furlong contest and made all under Gary Carroll to record a length-and-a-half success.

Troy Cullen, race planner for Cromwell, said: “Since Galway we’ve been waiting for a bit of soft ground for him, the softer it is the better. It’s his time of the year now and hopefully he can go in again.

“Martin (Sheridan, owner) has been a big supporter of the yard and it’s great for him to have a horse like him.”

Stable favourite

Another horse who appreciated the easier underfoot conditions was Clear Quartz (12/1) in the Oran Handicap over a mile and a half. The Mark Fahey-trained gelding led early in the straight and stayed on well late on to secure a length-and-three-quarters victory under Joe Harnett.

“He’s a right horse on that ground and obviously over different trips too,” said Fahey. “We took Joe’s 10lb off him, that’s his last winner now with 10lb. He’ll be able to do a bit lighter weights now that he’s down to 7lb.

“I’m delighted for Jean Bird (owner), she loves this horse. He’s a favourite in the yard; he’s after winning a good few races.”

Change of luck

Whats New bounced back from a fall over hurdles just 11 days previously to land the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap. Andy Slattery junior produced the 11/4 shot, trained by his father, to lead with half a mile to run and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-half length win over Nancee Spain.

“He wasn’t winning out of turn; he had been running consistently well in that grade. It’s just great to get it done for the owners (Joe Bolger) today,” said the winning rider.

“Obviously he took a heavy fall only a week and a half ago, but he’s always schooled well at home and I’d say that the run over jumps probably did help him. Hopefully, he’ll be winning over jumps as well.”