BILLY Lee had five rides at Sligo’s well-attended first meeting of the year and came away with a treble and two close seconds, with two winners trained by Paddy Twomey. The combination collected the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap with Lady Mairen, who recorded her first success at odds of 11/2.

Robert Moran’s daughter of Dubawi had smart juvenile form, but missed out on her three-year-old season. Here, on her second outing of the campaign over the extended 10-furlong trip, she led before the straight and was ridden out to beat Chica Guerrera by a length and a half. Joseph O’Brien’s well-backed 11/4 favourite Yulia got no run in the home straight and finished fifth.

Twomey said: “I knew she had come on from her run at Bellewstown, and I felt she wasn’t harshly treated on her two-year-old form. I felt that, with a clear run around, she’d go close and I’m delighted to win this race. I won it before for Robert with Rosscarbery (in 2022).

“I think she’s capable of getting blacktype at anywhere between a mile and a quarter and a mile and six furlongs.”

Never headed

Twomey and Lee teamed up earlier to win the Tote.ie Median Auction Maiden with County Carlow (10/11 favourite), who made it third time lucky when making all to beat Gia Mor by a length and three-quarters in the six-furlong contest.

Twomey explained: “He was quick out of the gates the last day at Dundalk and just didn’t see it out. It was trainer error to step him up to a mile from seven (furlongs) then, and back here today over a stiff six, he’s done it well.

“We’ll see what rating he gets and maybe look for a winners’ race.”

Handicap debut

Lee completed his treble when taking the Apex Controls Ltd Handicap on Gavin Cromwell’s Misty Cove (13/2), who was making her handicap debut after two creditable efforts on the all-weather.

The Ben Halsall-owned filly was on the front end throughout over the extended 10 furlongs and stayed on well up the stands’ side in the straight to account for Wipeawayyourtears by two lengths.

“I watched her videos and Gary Carroll told me that she’s a straightforward filly and would stay galloping, so I was keen to be forward on her,” Lee reported. “Every time I gave her a squeeze, she picked up and I think she’ll get a mile and a half.”

GEGENPRESSING (4/1) remains unbeaten in four visits to Sligo, after landing the Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap for the third year in a row.

Declan McDonogh’s mount soon raced behind the leaders in the six-furlong contest and was sent on entering the straight. The eight-year-old never looked in danger and posted a half-length victory in the colours of Edward Harty, who trains the winner with son Patrick.

Patrick Harty said: “He loves the hustle and bustle around here and the early fight to get a position. Any bit of adversity around here, he thrives on it.

“It’s our first winner since grandad (Eddie Harty senior) died and Dad now has his colours. Declan got a good kick out of that, because his mother Helen was very close to grandad.”

Early birthday gift

Now with his sixth different trainer, the 10-year-old Desert Friend (15/2) recorded his ninth career win in the Tote.ie Apprentice Handicap. Conor Cusack tucked in behind the leaders on the Pat Murphy-trained gelding in the early stages and led approaching the straight, before drawing clear to a seven-length success for owner Mrs Margaret Ahern.

Cusack said: “They were going a good gallop early on, and there’s a bit of cut in the ground, so I was happy to take back. He’s an old horse now, so I wanted to keep him happy and on the bridle for as long as possible, and once I got him rolling, he did it well.

“I’m in fifth year in school in Waterford and am in Henry de Bromhead’s yard as well. It’s my 18th birthday on Wednesday.”

SENT off 2/1 favourite, Baiana was prominent throughout when landing the opening Download The Tote App Fillies Maiden over the extended six furlongs for Joseph O’Brien and owner/breeder Philip Baron Von Ullmann .

Soon in a nice position on the rail, the German-bred kicked on approaching the straight and kept on well to hold slow-starting, fast-finisher Andaman Fifty by a diminishing neck.

Jockey Joey Sheridan reported: “A mile was a bit far for her at Thurles and then she ran well when second at Navan.

“She has done well over the winter and I think she’ll come forward from the run. That ground is as soft as she wants.”

Narrow margin

Sheridan was narrowly denied in the Web The Tool Company Handicap over the extended 10 furlongs by a game Metamorpheus (5/1). The eventual winner, trained by Andy McNamara for his wife Rhona, stuck out his head in the closing stages to prevail by a neck under Jamie Orr.

McNamara said: “He just about got there, but we had a plan and Jamie carried it out to perfection. His agent Dave Keena recommended him, so I watched a couple of videos and liked what I saw.

“He’s a very honest horse and he’ll probably mix it; we’ll probably stick to the flat and hurdles.”