BILLY Lee completed a Cork double last Friday week to keep tabs with Colin Keane, who competed a four-timer at Down Royal, at the head of the jockeys’ championship.

Lee’s double on board the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Chrismoltisanti in the opening Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden and on the Paddy Twomey-trained Erosandpsyche in the €45,000 Doneraile Handicap moved him to the 58-winner mark for the season, equal to Keane’s tally.

Lee’s double was completed with Erosandpsyche (5/2 favourite), who was a narrow winner of his five-furlong heat, under a daring ride.

Eight of the nine runners raced stands’ side but Lee elected to keep a straight course from stall one, keeping the 95-rated son of Sepoy on his own on the far side of the track. The pair stayed on well to win in a photo-finish, and by a short head and short head, over Harmony Rose and Moss Tucker.

Trainer Twomey later said: “I think it is a very good track and we reckoned going the straight line was the best way home. To be fair to Billy, he was brave and it worked.

“He is a very straightforward horse, had the visor on, has a high cruising speed and has lots of ability. He seemed to enjoy himself.

“He has entries in stakes races and will mix and match between handicaps. Barbara and Mark Dreeling, from Kildare, own him and sent him to me this year. He is a lovely horse to have and I enjoy training him.”

Lee double

Two hours earlier, Lee initiated his double on Chrismoltisanti (100/30) which was a last-gasp nose winner from Lopes Gold in the opener, scoring at the fourth attempt for owner Stuart Robinson.

Ross O’Sullivan later said: “He had a nice run last year as a two-year-old and has kept improving all this year. He is going the right direction, Billy loved him, said he’d have no problem getting seven furlongs and loved the ground. We’ll look for a handicap now and he could progress.

“Mark Gallagher is friendly with the owner Stuart Robinson, saw the horse in a pre-training yard and organised the owner to buy him. Stuart has Sea Sessions with me, who won a listed hurdle at Aintree last season.

“Mark loved this horse from the word go, had ridden him in his first few runs but unfortunately is out with an injury.”

Samrogue shoots home for ‘brilliant owners’

ROSS O’Sullivan completed a double at Cork with Samrogue (8/1) in the Follow Us On Social Media Handicap, which was itself the opening leg of a double for winning jockey Conor Hoban.

Afterwards O’Sullivan reported: “She won twice in Dundalk but hasn’t transferred that form to the turf.

“The last day she ran well, Conor was happy with her and today we tried a few different things. Six furlongs on a flat track suited her and we were lucky as she wants good or quick ground.

“She had come down to a mark she had won off before and that’s three races she has won. She is owned by brilliant owners Brendan Cooney and his daughter Yvonne Lavin.”

Eagle soars

Conor Hoban later bagged the concluding Family Fun Race Day August 1st Handicap, with the Pat Flynn-owned and -trained Not Just Any Eagle, who scored on his handicap debut at 25/1.

The keen-going son of Free Eagle was a led close home in a half-length defeat of Ta Na La, and Hoban later said: “He is a big baby, did everything wrong and was keen throughout the race.

“We went steady and when Billy (Lee, on Ta Na La) went on I was able to get a breather into him. In fairness for a raw horse, he put his head down and the performance was very likeable.

“Once I put the stick down, grabbed him and pushed him he hit the line strong and for his first run in a handicap it was a good performance. He might be a typical one of Pat’s that could progress through the rating.”

Very Easy result

TRAINER Andy Slattery and his jockey son Andrew Slattery were on the mark in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden with impressive debutante Easy (7/2), who was the first winner for owner Rachel Halley.

A €48,000 yearling purchase from Shadwell Estate last November, the daughter of Kodiac travelled strongly in this five-furlong race, quickening clear in the final furlong for a taking win over 7/4 favourie Queen Of Ours.

The trainer’s brother Brian Slattery said: “She is very exciting, has a couple of fancy entries and has justified our thoughts of her.”

The Adrian Murray-trained Kodi Red gained consecutive wins in the Follow Us On Instagram Race, scoring under jockey Seamie Heffernan.

Murray said: “He is an improving horse and has improved from every run.”

J.P. McManus’ Good Heavens easily justified 4/7 favourism in winning the Declan Nurney After Racing Median Auction Race, for trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Browne McMonagle reported: “He doesn’t lack a gear and has a bit of boot. He is trip-versatile and could go one mile, two furlongs.”