Tommy Lyons

2 weeks ago | irishexaminer.com | Tommy Lyons

Paddy Twomey saddled two leading fancies in the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks, the feature on Friday’s card in Mallow, and it was Magical Hope who gave the trainer his third win in the last four renewals of the race. Colin Keane was on board the former French-based four-year-old and gave the 3-1 chance a positive ride.

2 weeks ago | irishexaminer.com | Tommy Lyons

The feature on Thursday evening’s card in Leopardstown is the Group 3 Barberstown Castle Stakes and Comanche Brave can build on a fine effort in the Irish 2,000 Guineas by claiming victory here. In the colts’ classic, Donnacha O’Brien’s horse outran his odds of 50-1 by finishing fifth behind Field Of Gold. That was his first try at a mile and while he probably stays the trip well enough, the return to seven furlongs is a positive at this stage of his career.

2 weeks ago | irishexaminer.com | Tommy Lyons

Reigning champion jockey Colin Keane and future champion Dylan Browne McMonagle were the men in ascendency on Wednesday night’s card in Limerick, both men recording a double. Keane, who recently took the role as first jockey for Juddmonte’s European horses, completed his brace first, doing so with the Ray Cody-trained Enziya in the Conference & Banqueting Facilities At Limerick Handicap, and Michael O’Callaghan’s evergreen Facethepuckout in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Memorial Handicap.

2 weeks ago | irishexaminer.com | Tommy Lyons

Roscommon hosts an all-chase card, with the Tote Connacht National Handicap Chase as the feature, but the nap comes in the race prior to the bill-topper, in the shape of Brave Fortune. Pat Doyle’s six-year-old contests the www.roscommonracecourse.ie Beginners’ Chase, and with a first run over fences under his belt, he looks ready to collect. On that occasion, early last month at Tipperary, he contested a good race and was ridden quite negatively.

3 weeks ago | irishexaminer.com | Tommy Lyons

Delacroix was beaten more often than he won as a juvenile, but Aidan O’Brien’s colt has taken his form to a new level this season and can confirm his status as a truly top-class performer by giving his trainer a record-extending 11th victory in the Betfred Derby, this year being run in memory of Aga Khan IV. In five outings last season, he won a maiden at the second time of asking and a Group 3 in Newmarket, but was beaten in a maiden, a Group 2, and a Group 1.