Andrew Duff and Dunne Grand (left) on the way to victory in the amateur race at Laytown last Tuesday to complete a double for Kiltale trainer Ger Lyons.

Lyons makes a splash on day out at Laytown

Published: Wed 15 Sep 2010, 4:58 PM

Despite the inclement weather conditions the annual Laytown races on the beach attracted a good crowd last week where Meath trainer Ger Lyons recorded a double. Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh was expected to provide Lyons with one of those winners, but he was edged out on the fancied Romeo's On Fire by the other Glenburnie runner, Cosmic Breeze which was partnered by Keagan Latham. Murtagh has won big races all over the world, and at every other flat track in Ireland, but he still has sample the experience of riding a winner at Laytown. Amateur jockey Andrew Duff completed the double for Lyons when he gave a stylish performance on board Dunne Grand which made most of the running and stretched clear inside the final furlong for a four and a half lengths win over Academic Accolade. At the Curragh on Sunday Dunboyne jockey Padraig Beggy was on the mark with Ballivor for owner Alan Dargan in a handicap and completed a double when he also scored with Knock Stars in a nursery for Slane-based trainer Pat Martin. Knock Stars finished second at Down Royal on Friday night where she slipped up after passing the post. "She deserved that as she has got there too early before. She is very effective on the ground and she will stick to six furlongs now," said the trainer. There were two group three contests on the card and both were won by Murtagh. The first came on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Steinbeck and he completed his brace on the Charles O'Brien-trained Bewitched with a last-gasp win in the Michael Kinane Renaissance Stakes. Jessica Harrington completed a double at Listowel on Sunday. She initiated her brace in the opening maiden hurdle courtesy of the authoritative three lengths win with the Robbie Power-ridden Tango Knight. Her double was completed by the easy win of the Barry Geraghty-ridden Magical Memoir.Power went on to complete a double with the Noel Glynn-trained Gonebeyondrecall. Pat Smullen was the star performer on Friday at Down Royal, riding the winner of two of the most valuable races on the card. The first came on the Joanna Morgan-trained Ancient Sands and the double was completed in the feature race for Kilcock trainer Vincent Ward with Fictional Account . Castletown trainer Noel Meade ran Pointilliste in the group two Doncaster Cup at the English track on Friday and Gordon Elliott also ran Dirar in the same race. Both horses finished out of the frame. Eddie Lynam's Duff made a gallant bid for back-to-back wins in the Park Stakes on Saturday, but his charge had to settle for fourth after he was caught close home. Charlie Swan was crowned king of the legends after riding Miami Gator to win the Fudge And Smudge Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster. The likes of Pat Eddery, John Francome, John Reid, Steve Smith-Eccles, Tony Dobbin and Kevin Darley were all involved with the biggest legend of them all, Lester Piggott, presenting the prizes. Swan retired seven years ago after a highly-successful career as a national hunt jockey, during which he was crowned champion jockey in Ireland on no less than nine occasions. The winner is trained by Elaine Burke and having bounced out of the stalls to take an early lead, he never saw another rival and emerged the 1Â¾ lengths winner. Graham Bradley, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, finished third on Aflaam with Ernie Johnson, who won the 1969 Derby on Blakeney, fourth on Cape Kimberley.