OF all the many notable victories he has enjoyed throughout his career, Ger Lyons enjoyed one of unique and special resonance as his daughter, Kerri, made her third ride on the track a winning one on Sandstorming in the Thatch Bar & Katies Kitchen (Q.R.) Race.

Fresh from achieving her degree in Business Studies, Lyons (22) was composure and confidence personified on the Sean Jones-owned Sandstorming. The pair, who will bid for a follow up in today’s Ladies Derby at the Curragh, took the shortest route round before coming off the inner to deliver their challenge inside the last quarter of mile.

Inside the last furlong the leaders thinned out to leave Sandstorming (9/2) doing battle with Alton Bay and the lightly-raced four-year-old answered his rider’s every call to claim a universally popular success by a neck.

“It’s very special. Kerri rides plenty of work at home and she’s a very good event rider but it’s different on the track and this was only her third ride after a charity race in Punchestown and a race in Dundalk,” said the trainer and proud father. “It’s great for her and now she’s got her degree she wants to try and give this a go. This is a nice horse who gave her a lovely spin around tonight.”

The capable Allography signed off on a winning note for Michael Halford with a career best effort to overcome some seasoned rivals in the Scotch Hall Shopping Centre Ladies Day Handicap. Now a three-time winner this year, the Godolphin-owned colt was due to come under the hammer at the Tattersalls July Sale last night.

In a race where there was no shortage of pace, Conor McGovern took his time on the 7/2 favourite and his patience was rewarded when Allography picked up smartly approaching the last furlong. The Iffraaj colt dealt with Old Time Waltz and Ruler Of France inside the distance and crossed the line three-parts of a length ahead of the first-named.

“He’s very consistent and got a lovely ride from Conor who got him into a lovely rhythm which is important around here,” declared Halford. “He’s a dead genuine horse and I’m pleased for Conor who is great value for his 5lbs claim.”

Halford then struck with Cloudy Miss in the Hennessy & Perrozzi-sponsored three-year-old mile handicap.

HALFORD DOUBLE

Despite showing up well to reach the frame in a Leopardstown handicap last month the descendant of the great Allez France was allowed to go off at 10/1. Shane Foley got the daughter of Shamardal to the front with around a furlong to run for a two and a quarter lengths victory over the slow-starting top-weight Kamili.

“It’s nice to get a winning bracket for her, especially as she’s a homebred filly of John Connaughton’s,” remarked Halford. “The penny is starting to drop with her now and she’s getting stronger too so she will hopefully keep going on from here.”

On The Go Again (11/4), who has long been held in high regard by Michael Mulvany deservedly got his turn on the flat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. The winning hurdler came here off runner-up finishes in maidens at Roscommon and Down Royal and he coped well with the drop back to a mile.

The strapping son of Arakan came under pressure with around three furlongs to run but he responded well to Gary Carroll’s promptings. Once he got into a challenging position nearing the last furlong he quickly stamped his authority on the race to finish two and a quarter lengths ahead of Pure Action.

“I do think a lot of him and I wasn’t worried about coming back in trip. He was in the mile and a half maiden as well but he came here as I didn’t want to be taking on Aidan O’Brien,” commented Mulvany. “He’ll probably go to Galway for a handicap now and he’ll go back over hurdles in the autumn.”

MARKED PROGRESS

Pat Smullen rode his first winner for Joseph O’Brien as Tamboureen (9/1) showed marked progress from his debut to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over a mile. The Demi O’Byrne and Kieran Cotter-owned Red Jazz colt broke alertly to race on the pace and he showed a fine attitude over the last furlong and a half to last home by a head from the odds-on Hyperlapse.

“Joseph was happy that he’d improve a good bit from his first run so it wasn’t a surprise and the blinkers helped him,” reflected Smullen. “He missed the kick the last day so it was important he broke well. He got it easy enough up front but I really liked the way he stuck his head out over the last furlong.”

Smullen also went on to end the evening with a double as the sparingly campaigned Rose Anjou secured the 45-65 rated Margaret McManus Memorial Handicap. After beginning her season with three near misses Rose Anjou was a more than deserving winner and, having got to the front nearing the last furlong, the 9/2 favourite battled on well to make sure of this success. She defeated Botanical Lady by half a length.

This was a first winner of the season for Tracey Collins whose horses have been running well lately and of her last 17 runners eight have reached the frame. The winner is owned by the Rose Anjou Syndicate, whose silks are the old Kerry family colours, and the syndicate was set up by Bert Kerr’s daughter Anna who currently works at Goodwood racecourse.

“She’s been a model of consistency and has been knocking on the door for a long time,” reported the trainer. “She’s had a few hard luck stories and bad draws but Pat was phenomenal on her tonight. Also I must say that Bellewstown have, as ever, produced beautiful ground and this is a track that deserves to be supported.”

Declan McDonogh made it three winners for the meeting as Gordon Elliott’s Zanjabeel (6/1) downed the odds-on Air Supremacy in the Anglo Printers Maiden over a mile and a half.

The Confidence Partnership-owned four-year-old came here off a couple of good runs over hurdles and he fought on well inside the distance to first see off Mystic Traveller before then holding the late challenge of Air Supremacy by a neck.

Acting stewards

L. McFerran, W. Flood, J.R. Craigie, R.S. Martin, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

HAGUE CONVENTION (J.P. Murtagh): He eventually had to settle for fifth in the mile and a half maiden but there was definite promise in this effort and it represented a progression on his first two runs. There should be more to come from him through the second half of the season.