Early Easter Lily for Moynalty jockey!

Moynalty jockey Declan McDonogh was in fine form at Dundalk on Friday night where he recorded a double. The Meath rider won the opening race on the card with Lilly Be which had already won for the Moynalty man on the sand at Laytown 18 months ago. Lilly Be won on the strand in September 2007 and in 11 outings subsequently hadn"t won until McDonogh got the six-year-old filly back on the right track on Friday evening for Newbridge-based trainer Paul Magnier. McDonogh completed his double when he won a one-mile maiden with the Kevin Prendergast-trained Sapphire Spray. Bohermeen native Johnny Murtagh was also on the mark with Mariydi (8-1) for an Aga Khan-owned one-two in a handicap. Trained by Michael Halford, Murtagh had a length in hand of John Oxx"s Aliyfa at the line. Kiltale-based trainer Ger Lyons was on the mark at his favourite track, Dundalk, on Friday night. Lyons sent An Tadh back to action after an eight-month lay-off to complete back-to-back victories in the Hibernia Steel Products Ltd Race at Louth track. Keagan Latham had plenty in hand turning into the straight where several rivals looked ready to lay down a serious challenge. The six-year-old (6-1), which has won frequently at seven furlongs handled the shorter trip impressively to beat favourite Invincible Ash by three-quarters of a length. Promising apprentice Tim Carroll was narrowly edged out of the winners" enclosure for boss Noel Meade with Jaamid when Shane Foley pounced late with Otterstown Lady in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap. Meade made it into the winners" enclosure at The Curragh on Sunday after he landed a handicap with Dilshaan"s Prize under Michael Kinane. The five-year-old is owned by the High Street Ceathar Syndicate and hadn"t run since finishing unplaced at Chantilly in October 2007. 'He is a good horse, he came from France, but has had a lot of problems with his back,' commented the trainer. 'We spent a lot of time trying to get him right and he has been working well at home, but we thought he might have needed the run,' added the trainer. Meade also ran Harchibald in the same race and confirmed that the top hurdler got tired in the closing stages. 'Harchibald ran well, he just got tired and needed the run, but it"s all systems go now for Punchestown,' he added referring to the forthcoming festival at the Kildare track at the end of this month. Last week, in his column, Meade confirmed that the champion hurdle at Punchestown will be Harchibald"s target. McDonogh enjoyed a fine evening at Limerick on Monday when he recorded a double. The Meath man won a maiden with the James Nash-trained Splurge which could be aimed at the GPT Amateur Handicap at Galway in July. McDonogh was also on the mark for Dunshaughlin trainer Eddie Lynam when Pussyfooting won a handicap.