Six Of Hearts under Davy Moran gets up to win the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Corus for Kells!

The Round Tower Syndicate from Kells were celebrating in the winners' enclosure at Leopardstown on Sunday after they watched Six of Hearts storm to victory in the Group three Ballycorus Stakes over seven furlongs. The first prize of €39,000 was the biggest that the Cecil Ross-trained six-year-old has won. Fourth on his last run in the Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh, Six Of Hearts denied the odds-on favourite, Duff, trained at Dunshaughlin by Edward Lynam, back-to-back victories in the race. It's unusual for an 82-rated hurdler to win a Group race, but Six Of Hearts staked a claim for a rags-to-riches tag with the biggest success of a career which started when he trailed in last in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park two years ago for his new owners, the Kells-based Round Tower Syndicate. This was a seventh racecourse success for the owners who include Seamus McGovern, Oliver Casserly, Gavin Butler, Damien Dardis and John Butler. Ridden by Davy Moran, Six Of Hearts was produced with impeccable timing to take up the lead 150 yards out, to record a half length win over 8/13 favourite Duff. Lynam's stable star attempted to blaze a trail in his usual fashion, but the odds-on shot could not shake off the opposition. Duff was pressed first by King Jock and then by Six Of Hearts which got his head in front inside the final furlong and kept on gamely for Davy Moran. Mullingar-based Ross, who was a noted amateur jockey and rode The Pooka in the Aintree Grand National many years ago, was also recording his biggest win on flat "I'm not going to claim today's race was the plan with Six Of Hearts, we bought him for 11,000 guineas out of Jamie Osborne's yard at a sale, he was rated just 58 then and we sent him hurdling without success," commented the trainer. "We were hoping for second place, behind Duff, but he is the type of horse that always has a chance as he is dog tough. "We left off the cheek pieces, he was always wearing some types of jewellery, and it seems to have rejuvenated him. "Davy Moran gave him a super ride, but don't ask me for plans now, I've none," he concluded. Declan McDonogh was also on the mark at the Foxrock track when the Kevin Prendergast-trained Longhunter made an impressive winning debut in the Moyglare maiden.. McDonogh, chased the leaders and led over a furlong out before striding clear for an easy four lengths win over Treasure Beach. Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh was also on the mark when he scored for former Kildare football-turned-trainer Willie McCreery. Murtagh was at his brilliant best when he produced Charminamix with a perfectly timed challenge to win a handicap, for trainer Willie McCreery. Charminamix and Murtagh won at Dundalk a fortnight ago and on Sunday was held up, made steady headway in the straight before eventually getting to the front inside the final furlong, to defeat Lord Kenmare by a length and a quarter. "Johnny gave Charminamix a brilliant ride, he has found the key to him by helping him settle," suggested the trainer.