SHANE Crosse continued his march towards the apprentice jockeys’ championship with a double in Ballybrit that took him to 27 winners for the season.

Both victories saw him beat title rivals into second as he ended the day five winners ahead of Killian Leonard and six in front of Ben Coen.

Tuamhain, on whom Crosse won at Gowran Park last week, got the ball rolling in the Barna Recycling Handicap.

The well-backed 11/4 favourite came to grab Cyrus Dallin and Leonard inside the final furlong and swept two and a half lengths clear at the line.

Joseph O’Brien, who has supplied Crosse with 17 of his winners, trained the three-year-old filly for the Wait For Us Syndicate.

O’Brien’s representative, Damian Byrne, said: “She is an improving and a straightforward filly. He (the handicapper) didn’t miss her by giving her 10lbs for winning at Gowran, but she won well there.”

Crosse then sported Margaret Durkan’s colours on Carol’s Return (8/1) who landed division one of the Reaney’s of Galway Supporting NUIG Volunteer Services Abroad Handicap in good style.

Coen went for home entering the straight on One Cool Poet, but Carol’s Return challenged approaching the final furlong and scooted three and a half lengths clear in the closing stages.

Trainer William Durkan’s assistant, Gary Bannon, said: “She probably wanted soft ground all year but we didn’t get it for her. She ran really well in a maiden here at the festival so we thought back in handicaps she would get her head in front. She jumps a hurdle well so we’ll probably go hurdling.”

KEANE DOUBLE

Colin Keane, who relinquishes his champion jockey crown to Donnacha O’Brien at the end of the season in Naas on Sunday, also booted home a double.

He enjoyed an all-the-way success on his father Gerry Keane’s Laughifuwant in the Corrib Food Products Maiden over seven furlongs, in his mother Esther’s colours.

His mount broke well from stall two and Keane set the fractions throughout. Raynama, the 5/4 favourite, looked a danger as she took closer order in second entering the straight.

Laughifuwant had plenty left in the tank, though, as he stayed-on well in the final furlong to score by four lengths at 5/2.

“That was badly wanted! He is a nice horse and the key to him is having a cut in the ground. It was a little bit lively for him the last day and he had a little hold-up before his Curragh run,” the trainer commented.

“We’ll probably have him for next year, he is a big raw horse and if things go right he could improve next year.”

Keane then steered Maze Runner (5/1 joint-favourite) home by three-quarters of a length in the John Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap for Willie and Jackie Mullins.

CAREER

The soft, soft to heavy in places going was music to Canary Row’s ears who brought up his sixth career success in the Kone Handicap.

Richard Barnes’ eight-year-old gelding, with Ross Coakley in the plate, wore down Vocal Music to land the feature by three-quarters of a length at 7/1.

Afterwards, trainer Patrick Prendergast said: “I’m delighted with that as it looked like we were going to go through the year without winning one with him.

“He hasn’t the zip he once had but that ground slowed the pace down a little bit. He is a great lead horse and we’re very fond of him. He’ll be back again for the Lincoln next March.”

The market got it spot on with Delphinia in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Sustained support throughout the morning saw her price more than halve to 11/4 favourite on the off.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge was strongly pressed by newcomer Kiss For A Jewel racing past the furlong pole but found extra at the business end to pull out the victory by half a length.

Donnacha O’Brien, in the Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith silks, said: “She liked the ground and stayed well. Staying is her forte.

“Maybe she was (under the weather in August) but she had two runs coming here so had a bit of experience.”

Cuban Surfer (9/1) picked off Amaira to take the www.swordsecurity.com Nursery Handicap by two lengths under Kevin Manning. The Teofilo filly got off the mark for Jim and Jackie Bolger on her 10th start and availed of a mark of 60.

Manning said: “She has been running good races and she came down the ratings which was a big help. She had been running consistently well in her races.”

The jockey was hit with a one-day suspension after the stewards deemed that he had ridden carelessly causing Royal Canford and Commodus to check.

SPARE RIDE

Mark Gallagher came in for a 20/1 winning spare ride on Phebes Dream in division two of the Reaney’s of Galway Supporting NUIG Volunteer Services Abroad Handicap.

He replaced Andrew Slattery, who was unwell, and conjured up a last-gasp thrust for the line that saw Phebes Dream win by a head, a short-head and a neck in a bunch finish.

“It was a perfectly executed plan over the last five years!” trainer John McConnell exclaimed. “It was a great ride from Mark Gallagher who stepped in and I said to him beforehand if you can get her to settle at all she’ll run really well as she can kill herself pulling too hard. He switched her off as much as he could.

“She was gutsy to win the way she did and I think that’s my favourite win over the past while as I was the only one who had faith in her!”

ACTING STEWARDS

P.J. O’Connor, J. Powell, J. Collins, T. McDonogh, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

HARVEST BOW (N. Meade) She made up a lot of ground in the final furlong to flash home in third and clearly relishes testing conditions.