BRENDAN Brackan completed a hat-trick of wins in the featured Listed Navigation Stakes at Cork on Saturday where the Ger Lyons-trained eight-year-old moved his jockey Colin Keane to within touching distance of a first jockeys’ championship.

Brendan Brackan had won the last two renewals under Gary Carroll but was today completing a double on the day for jockey Keane, who moved five wins clear of Pat Smullen (87-82) in the title race.

Following the 3/1 favourite’s win, Lyons’ brother and assistant Shane Lyons said: “This lad is a legend and is the reason why we don’t keep many horses in training after three because he keeps everybody buzzing at home and he’s just a dude. He ran a flat race last time and we honestly don’t know why but he seems to have saved himself for this race! If anyone is allowed a bad day, it’s him.

“There is another example of how well Colin is riding as he had the brains to take his time within two strides when he was in his comfort zone and left the leaders go off and do their own thing. The plan will again be to not over-race him (the winner).

“His owners David (Spratt) and Sean (Jones) deserve great credit as they are great supporters of the yard and went to the sales to buy him back into the yard for fun and they have been repaid big time.”

PACE

Lyons and Keane were on the mark in the half hour earlier in the Ingredient Solutions Rickie Healy Handicap with Celebration (5/1) in the colours of Gaelic Thoroughbreds.

Keane produced the gelding late on the outer and in the end scored a one and three-quarter lengths win over Not A Bad Oul Day.

Shane Lyons commented: “Colin (Keane) said after he rode him the last day that he is finding time to warm up in those five-furlong sprints and is getting caught in trouble early doors in big fields when other horses has more pace than him. It was a good shout stepping him up to seven and he got it really well today.

“We won’t ever run him on quick ground and he gives us that feel at home that he’d appreciate ease in the ground. I don’t think there is another race for him between now and the end of the season but we’ll be looking. He definitely won’t go to Dundalk and the Lincoln in the spring is in the back of our head. Colin said to stick him to seven but he’ll be holding an entry in it and we won’t know whether he’d get a mile until he runs.

“Fair play to Cork as the track isn’t in as bad as everyone is expecting and it’s in great shape and that’s brilliant for Colin too and it’s nearly a ‘six-pointer’ for him.

As well as training the first four home in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, the champion trainer also recorded a winner here, when Kenya (8/11 favourite) routed his rivals by eight lengths and more in the opening Coolmore Ruler Of The World Maiden for the Coolmore partners.

Afterwards winning jockey Emmet McNamara, who also plays a big role as a work-rider Ballydoyle, said: “He had a lovely run the first day and came forward from it well and was very impressive.

“It looked like a field where there might be plenty in with chances and you’d imagine all five would win a maiden. He handled the ground well and stayed particularly well. He’ll have no problem stepping up in grade or trip.”

CLEAR

Another of Ballydoyle’s jockeys, Colm O’Donoghue, was on the mark here where he steered the Jessica Harrington-trained Rickrack to a maiden win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite, carrying the colours of Jon Kelly, went clear with a furlong to race and in the end beat Gentil J by four and three-quarter lengths.

Harrington wasn’t present but O’Donoghue later commented: “She has a lot of pace and was a bit gassy running over one-mile, two-furlong but she relaxed very well today and we went a nice even pace.”

Half an hour earlier, the Rickie Healy Appeal Nursery Handicap was won by the Austin Leahy-trained Drombeg Dream (3/1), who scored a battling success under Shane Foley.

The daughter of Arcano, out of Lincoln winner Drombeg Dawn, was today losing her maiden tag at the eighth attempt and afterwards Leahy reported: “She looks like she would stay further than a mile and is a tough filly as she has run seven or eight times and didn’t get it easy any day.

“I felt the handicapper gave me a chance by giving her 1lb for her Listowel run and Shane loved her before he had every ridden her as he finished ahead of her in a race won by Sioux Nation here earlier in the season and asked me then that if ever it came up, that he’d like to ride her.

“The owners (farrier Cian McAuliffe and his father and bookmaker Paddy McAuliffe, from Athlacca, Co Limerick) asked me could I find something in France for her and I think there’s a listed race (Listed Prix Herod Stakes at Chantilly, over seven furlongs) next month which could be an option.”

In-foal Roman Seera 910/1) won the concluding Corporate HR Ireland Rickie Healy Maiden for trainer and owner Tony Mullins when providing jockey Willie Byrne with a second career win.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor made all and held off the challenge of the 7/4 favourite Free Ranger close home for a half-length win.

Mullins said: “She improved immensely having had a late covering and is in-foal to Vocalised. It changed her and she is a good tough galloping filly. I think there’s a blacktype race in two weeks time. We’re over the moon with that today.”

APPRENTICES

Killian Leonard is chasing this year’s apprentice jockeys’ championship and moved to within one winner (18/17) of joint-leaders Ana O’Brien and Oisin Orr when landing the Savills Supporting Rickie Healy Appeal Apprentice Handicap on the Pat Flynn-trained Aunty Audrey (5/1).

Flynn wasn’t present and Leonard said: “It can be hard to get her to settle in her races but she’ll learn and while she has plenty racing done, she is just starting to come to a bit of form now and learning what racing is all about,” said Leonard. You have to keep the lid on her but she is learning.”

Smullen suspension

PAT Smullen was found to be in breach of Rule 214 (careless riding) in the Navigation Stakes and received a one-day suspension for his ride on Reckless Gold.

Acting Stewards

P. McLernon, J. Powell, O. Kearney, M.J. Doyle, P.W. Murtagh

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

KENYA (A.P. O’Brien) He won the opener in some style and looks a horse to keep on the right side of in group races next year.