Lyons and Murtagh rein in the winners

Ger Lyons was in hat-trick form at Wexford of Friday night where he provided Johnny Murtagh, who met the Queen on Thursday, with a double. Murtagh landed the opening race, a maiden, with Music Pearl, which got the better of favourite Hadrian's Waltz in the closing stages while the Bohermeen man also won with Sixty Eight Guns for Lyons. The win of Sixty Eight Guns foiled a big gamble on Whatever It Takes (backed in from 9/2 to 10/11 at the off) in a handicap. Solent Ridge completed the tally for the Kiltale-based handler and gave Dunshaughlin apprentice Danny Benson another success. Benson avoided some early mayhem at the first bend where Rock of Hope slipped up and brought down Black n Brew. Lyons was back in the winners' enclosure at The Curragh on Saturday when Murtagh partnered Future Generation to victory in the final race. Lyons is now on 14 winners for the season, Murtagh is on 20 and leads the race for the jockeys' title, three ahead of his nearest challengers, Fran Berry and Wayne Lordan. Another local trainer, Michael Mulvaney, was denied victory in the Marble Hill Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday when Tough As Nails was edged out by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Power. Sligo on Monday produced a profitable evening for Meath trainers and jockeys with Robbie Colgan recording a double for Westmeath trainer Cecil Ross in the opening two races. Dunderry trainer James Halpin also claimed a victory with Shady Pines in a maiden hurdle and later indicated that a run on the flat could be next for the five-year-old. Irish Grand National-winning jockey Nina Carberry won the bumper with Charlie's Vic for Derry trainer Noel Kelly. She also won the bumper at Limerick on Sunday.