AFTER his title rival Colin Keane enjoyed a good weekend, Billy Lee pulled back two vital winners in the jockeys’ championship as he joined forces with Willie McCreery to record a double which left him just two behind the reigning champion.

First up was Drummin Life in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden over an extended mile. The Frank Fahy-owned and -bred daughter of Gleneagles came here off a good third to Foniska at Thurles recently and was returned a well-supported 15/8 favourite. Drummin Life got to the front quite easily with around two furlongs to run and was in control of the race from this point onwards, eventually defeating Water Nymph by three and a quarter lengths.

“Billy said she will come on plenty again from this and she was just idling in front. It’s lovely she has won for Frank as she’s the first foal out of the mare. I don’t think she’ll have a problem with any ground next year,” stated McCreery.

Revelatory

Blazing Skies completed the double with a revelatory effort in the mile-and-a-half fillies’ maiden. This Dark Angel filly had run to a reasonable standard at seven furlongs and a mile but turned in a vastly better performance over this new distance. She cruised to the front inside the last quarter of a mile and ran out a very easy nine-length winner over the favourite Engagement Ring.

“It’s great for the Irish National Stud Racing Club. I was a bit worried about the trip but Cathal Beale (Irish National Stud CEO) said there is lots of stamina on the dam’s side of the pedigree and she’s done it well. She got a lovely, cool ride from Billy,” commented the trainer who was making it 28 winners for the season.

The final flat race of the year at Gowran Park went to Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh as White Caviar (5/2) followed up her Listowel maiden success in the mile-and-a-half handicap.

The Australia own-sister to Galileo Chrome was locked in combat with Active Duty, Darraby and Extensio heading towards the last furlong but asserted in likeable fashion in the closing stages to give the impression she had something to spare at the finish. She appeals as one that could develop into a smart stayer next year.

Puckout finds the target again

THE revitalised Facethepuckout followed up his commanding success at the Curragh five days previously with another tour de force in the second division of the 47-65 rated handicap over an extended nine furlongs.

Michael O’Callaghan’s charge, who is owned by the trainer’s wife Siobhain, was hit with an eye-watering 18lbs hike for his Curragh efforts. This meant that even with a mandatory 7lb penalty the six-year-old was lining up 11lbs well in and odds of 8/11 was an indication of the task facing his rivals. Emmet McNamara enjoyed a most straightforward time of things aboard the market leader who led early in the straight and soon sauntered clear to hit the line with half a dozen lengths to spare.

“He did what he was entitled to do on the handicapper’s assessment of him at the Curragh. He’s just in a good vein of form at the minute,” declared O’Callaghan whose charge could turn out again at the Curragh on Sunday.

Stormy Jenn, whose only previous success came over this course and distance 14 months ago, was an emphatic winner of the first division of that 47-65 rated handicap to reward those that supported her from 12/1 in the morning into 5/1 favourite.

Robert Whearty was on board this Peter Cluskey-owned and -trained five-year-old who ran right away from the top-weight, Skontonovski, in the last furlong to prevail by half a dozen lengths.

Nice prospect for Murphy

IMMUTABLE confirmed himself a nice prospect for Joe Murphy for next year with a gutsy effort that saw him get off the mark at the third attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile.

The Gerard Kervick-owned son of Muhaarar lined up off a pleasing second to the very promising Lark In The Mornin at Listowel last month and showed a good attitude to build on that display. After keeping close to the pace Gary Carroll’s mount gave the impression that he had San Antonio covered from well over a furlong out. The latter dug in well and Immutable (4/1) had to be tough to get on top before reaching the line with half a length to spare over Dark Side.

“It was a tough slog out there but he battled well and he’s a nice horse who will be able to step up to a mile and a quarter next year,” said Murphy. “He’s a first winner for Ger Kervick who is a great patron of ours and hopefully it will be the first of many for him.”

Kicked off

The card kicked off with a winner for Mark Fahey as Rhythm King, who was supported from 33/1 into 16/1 after three unplaced maiden runs, won the seven-furlong nursery. Gavin Ryan got his mount to the front over two furlongs from home and Lennon family-owned homebred son of Elzaam kept on in gritty fashion to deny Summer Snow by a short head. The latter looked an unlucky loser as he had to bide his time to get a run at a crucial stage and his rider lost his whip entering the final furlong.

“I’m delighted for the Lennons, they’ve had a few horses with me and this is the first winner they’ve had. We’ll see what’s coming up for him. If there is a race there and the ground is soft, we will kick on,” remarked the trainer.

There was a 33/1 winner lying in wait in the three-year-old 47-70 rated handicap over an extended nine furlongs. Owned, bred and trained by Paul McEnery, the daughter of Cotai Glory kept close to the pace for Andy Slattery and overhauled the front running Lucky Queen around a furlong out before reaching the line with a length to spare to record her second success of the season.