GER Lyons has been the in-form trainer in Ireland in the last fortnight or so; since May 28th to the meeting at Navan last Sunday, he had nine winners from 20 runners with four more finishing either second or third.

That rush of form came after a start that was less slow than it was quiet, at least in terms of runners. In the first three months of the flat turf season in Ireland, Lyons had just 57 runners, well down on his previous years.

During the five previous seasons from March to May, his average number of runners in that period was 89.2, and it was all the way back in 2014 when he had a figure that low in the same period (44), the yard in a different place then.

Perhaps something needed to be figured out, but whatever it was looked to have been sorted by the Curragh last Wednesday where Lyons won both premier handicaps, though it was interesting to see the trainer suggest that both might struggle off their revised marks.

Amiata won the five-furlong race in a finish of noses and necks, perhaps more suited by being held up in a bigger field and passing horses than the smaller field he met at Cork last time, while the runner-up Real Encounter was off the bridle from an early stage, but responded well to pressure and looks as if six furlongs would suit better. The strong travelling third, Allsortz, has become a consistent and likeable type.

Classy race

The Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Handicap was a classy race, the top-weight rated 106, and looked competitive beforehand but few got into the race, those on the pace dominating as the finishing speed percentage was nearly 110% when 106% is par for the trip.

Poetic Sound was suited by the rain and a step up in trip having been outpaced over shorter last time, and he responded well to pressure to overhaul the front-running Factual Fact who shaped a little better than the result after a bad start.

He had been squeezed out from the stalls then stumbled, Andrew Slattery proactive afterwards as he moved the keen sort up to the lead before slowing down the gallop mid-race.

The third, Granite Bay, was rallying again late and looks like he has a bigger performance in him, but he is edging up the weights and might need an extreme test to show his best.

Shaped with promise

A couple of the higher-rated ones down the field might be aiming at staying handicaps of even higher value and shaped with promise.

Emit did best of those held up, and will presumably drop in the weights for this, while Dawn Rising only got going late and has produced his best efforts in autumn in recent years. Since the Irish Cesarewitch became high value in 2022, Joseph O’Brien has won it twice and had four more placed horses.

THE two-year-old scene is taking shape, and we are even seeing some of the middle-distance pedigrees coming out as maidens are starting to be run over seven furlongs.

Aix La Chapelle won one of those at the Curragh last Wednesday in good style, the race run at a true gallop as the experienced Bull Shark made the running in windy conditions, but the winner picked him up without being asked for everything and won with a bit in hand.

He should improve plenty for this too as Aidan O’Brien described him as ‘a sleeper’ at home.

Celeron won the following six-furlong maiden, again with a bit in hand having travelled well close to the pace.

He is headed for Royal Ascot, Michael O’Callaghan saying afterwards that the new conditions of the Windsor Castle suit well, and the trainer has another juvenile hope for that meeting with The Harv who won at Goodwood on Sunday.

Promising efforts

There were several promising efforts in defeat behind Celeron, the runner-up One Number shaping particularly well.

Having raced in mid-division, he was caught further back than as the race developed in front, then was green and got unbalanced when asked for effort but made up a lot of ground late as the penny dropped in the closing stages.

La Tache was unusual for a Lyons first-time starter, slowly away and not knowing his job, but he did run on late and should benefit from the experience while Gwen flashed ability for David Geary. Having dwelt in the stalls, she travelled well but got caught in a pocket up the near rail and didn’t get out until the race was over as a contest.

Strong race

The opening seven-furlong maiden for fillies run at Leopardstown last Thursday tends to be a strong race, recent winners including September, Cayenne Pepper and Bedtime Story, and this year’s running looked well up to scratch judged on the pedigrees on show.

The pace was steady but the first four still came clear, the winner Blonde Over Blue keen but knowing her job better than most, and it is far from certain she would uphold form with the ones behind next time.

The runner-up Alpha was strong in the market with Wayne Lordan up, and had things go against her. She dwelt in the stalls and had to come from further back than the other three that came clear, getting lost a bit mid-race as she was niggled along before coming home strongly without being knocked about.

She is a bigger filly than the winner, and her stablemate Ibelieveicanfly looked bigger again and didn’t have the pace to go with the others late. Her size suggests she may take time, but she is not one to give up on.

FLAT racing at Navan can sometimes get lost, taking place either midweek or among the morass of busy Saturdays, so it was good to see the track get the spotlight to themselves last Sunday where a pair of listed races were the features.

The first of those was a new race, the Hill of Tara Stakes, and it drew a competitive field with a mix of three-year-olds and older horses. The pace was steady, and Isaac Newton needed to show a terrific turn of foot to come from rear.

Having been locked up behind horses for much of the straight, he was only pulled out late by Ryan Moore and he passed most of the field in the final furlong to win by a nose. The American style of racing might suit him this summer.

The 117-rated Hotazhell was second past the post, later demoted to third for causing interference, and he had every chance for all he would have preferred a stronger gallop.

He does not help himself by being keen, a comment that also applies to the third past the post. Geryon.

Unbalanced

Though only seventh, Hazdann showed up well. Like the winner, he was buried in rear behind horses, and remained that way for whole straight, Chris Hayes never able to ask him for effort while he also got unbalanced down the hill. He remains with plenty of potential.

The Kooyonga Stakes was run at a much stronger gallop, the first two coming from off the pace. Both were trained by Danny McLoughlin, a career-best day for him, and both look like further would suit.

Duckadilly seemed to reach her ceiling in this type of race last year but may have improved, and a step up in trip may get another few pounds out of her.