THE victory of Beamish in the featured Listed Lenebane Stakes was the highlight of a treble for Declan McDonogh at Roscommon on Tuesday evening.

Paddy Twomey continued his flying form when the Teofilo colt lunged late to land the spoils in the mile-and-a-half contest. McDonogh’s mount was towards the rear early on after missing the break, but he made up ground stylishly in the straight. The 10/3 shot came up the centre of the track to challenge Yaxeni a furlong from home and got on top close home to beat that rival by half a length.

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s never put a foot wrong,” said Twomey. “I thought today it could go wrong during the race but he has class and ability and pulled it out there up the straight.

“He showed what he shows at home. He won his maiden on good to firm ground at Leopardstown last year and handled that ground in Killarney. I’d say he’s very versatile.

“We’ll take the next step with him now, wherever that is. John (Flynn) is very sporting, he’s had horses with me since I started training and he bought him off me since his last run. I’m delighted for him.”

Teamed up

McDonogh teamed up with Joseph O’Brien for his other two winners on the card and the pair first struck with Herring Island in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Handicap.

The Australia colt was making his first start since a maiden win at Navan last October and was an easy-to-back 12/1 shot. He produced a gutsy performance to land the spoils, leading two furlongs out and repelling the challenge of Mister Wilson in the final furlong for a length-and-a-quarter win.

“It was a good performance. That was only his third run and he was carrying a lot of weight,” said Brendan Powell of the Lloyd Williams-owned colt.

“Declan said the track was completely against him, on the bends he was losing a little bit. He said he was always just doing enough and every time he asked him he picked up. He will get further and there will be a nice pot in him before the end of the summer. He loves that ground.”

McDonogh completed his treble in the finale when Busselton claimed the mile-and-a-half maiden.

The Mastercraftsman gelding came to lead two furlongs from home and pulled out plenty when pressed by Thousand Tears close home to record a half-length victory for owner Michael Burke.

Powell said: “He’s been consistent jumping and now on the flat. The ground was probably a bit quick for him in Down Royal last time.

“He’ll probably get a mark now and I’d say there will be loads of options for him, both on the flat and jumping, at Galway.”

THERE was also a treble on the card for Gary Carroll and he was quick off the mark, bagging the opening two races.

Pandora Lovegood put her experience to good use when claiming the opening auction series maiden for trainer Joe Murphy.

The 3/1 favourite made all in the seven-furlong contest and went clear in the closing stages for a cosy five-length win in the colours of Tony Auld.

Joe Murphy junior said afterwards: “She’s a nice filly. She had two good runs and was probably entitled to, at least, be in the first three but we didn’t think she’d be quite as impressive as that.

“She’s a Fast Company filly and loved the ground. She’s very genuine, we’ll see how she comes out of it but maybe the nursery at Galway might be a nice option for her.

“She’s still a bit on the weak side so we could put her away for an autumn campaign as she enjoys that cut in the ground.”

Promise

In the following fillies’ maiden over the same trip, Girl Crush confirmed the promise of her run in claiming company at Ballinrobe eight days previously.

The Joseph Murray-trained filly had stayed on to finish second then but made all this time and had too much in hand for Dabana late on as she recorded a length-and-a-quarter win.

“Especially after running over further last time, I said if I could land in front, and let her stride on, I knew she would get to the line well. She did that today,” revealed Carroll afterwards.

“She handled that ground well and I think she would go around Galway.”

Carroll completed his haul when the in-form Dha Leath struck again in the Connolly’s Red Mills Handicap over 10 furlongs.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained filly had already won twice this season and kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a convincing one-and-three-quarter-length success over Loingseoir.

Cromwell said of the 5/2 favourite, owned by Gerard Clarke: “She tries hard, in fairness to her. I thought the handicapper had caught up with her but she dug deep.

“She gets through that ground fine. I toyed with the idea of not coming here and waiting for Galway but sure you could wait and maybe not get your ground or get a bad draw. It’s great to win with her again.”

Reserve

Dutch Schaefer made the most of her opportunity when getting in as second reserve in the seven-furlong Guinness Apprentice Handicap.

The 28/1 shot was to the fore throughout under Sean Bowen and stuck her head out late on to prevail by a neck in a bunch finish. The victory wasn’t a big surprise to trainer Denis Hogan, who said: “Her two wins last year were on heavy and that’s her ground. She had been working quite well lately, Sean takes off a few pounds as well and she was down to her winning mark.

“She’s no star but she’s honest and she gives everything.”