Keane five clear as Brendan lands treble

Brendan Brackan completed a remarkable hat-trick in the Navigation Stakes at Cork this afternoon to give Colin Keane another big boost in the title race.

Keane was completing a quick double when steering the 3/1 favourite to victory in the Listed contest, the Ger Lyons-trained gelding's third successive win in the race.

It moved the current leader five clear of Pat Smullen at the top of the jockey's table.

With a battle for the early lead in the extended mile contest Keane elected to settle his mount mid-division before making ground up on the outer passing the two pole.

The eight-year-old was disputing the lead before the furlong marker and stayed on well to assert in the closing stages and record a length-and-three-quarters win over Onenightidreamed

"This lad is a legend and is the reason why we don't keep many horses in training after three because he keeps everybody buzzing at home and he's just a dude,” said Shane Lyons.

"He ran a flat race last time and we honestly don't know why but we put it down to a bad day and he seems to have saved himself for this race! If anyone is allowed a bad day, it's him.

"There is another example of how well Colin is riding as he had the brains to take his time within two strides when he was in his comfort zone and left the leaders go off and do their own thing.

"He went on his holidays this time last year and the plan will again be to not over-race him. His owners David (Spratt) and Sean (Jones) deserve great credit as they are great supports of the yard and went to the sales to buy him back into the yard for fun and they have been repaid big time."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)