Like so many others Keane has the key to Georgeville too

Record-breaking champion jockey Colin Keane moved on to the 130-winner mark for the campaign aboard Georgeville (4/1 joint favourite) in the Listed Manguard Plus Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown.

David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons were getting a first win out of the former Juddmonte and Dermot Weld runner, and he did it comfortably from a Rosewell House resident of today, Wuqood (22/1).

The Ger Lyons-trained Georgeville dwelt, and he raced in the rear of mid-division. He then made headway entering the straight, and was ninth travelling well two furlongs out.

Ridden to lead a furlong out the successful Dawn Approach gelding stayed on strongly in the final furlong for a two and a half length verdict. Leo De Fury Georgeville's fellow market-leader, was a neck back in third.

Lyons' brother Shane said afterwards: “He’s never run a bad race for us over a mile or a mile and two. Colin has the key to him and rides him cold. He said he just loved it sitting in behind waiting for a gap.

“He’s going to be a real fun horse for us next year in that grade. He reminds us a lot of Brendan Bracken.

“He’s done us proud all year and next year is a big year for him.”

The Stewards enquired into an incident on the outer in the straight involving Layfayette ridden by C.D. Hayes, Geometrical ridden by L.T. McAteer, Lough Derg ridden by J.A. Heffernan, and Wuqood (GB), ridden by B.M. Coen, where it appeared horses bunched.

Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.

C.D. Hayes stated that as he switched out he got a bump on the outer. L.T. McAteer stated that his mount raced awkwardly, received a bump but was going backwards. B.M. Coen stated that his mount travelled well, as Lough Derg comes out he received a bump and as a consequence his mount bumped onto Geometrical. J.A. Heffernan stated that his mount carried his head to the right, as he changed his hands he drops a rein, which prevents him from taking a corrective check.

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards apportioned no blame for the incident on any individual rider and took no further action.

S.M. Crosse, rider of Mythical (FR) trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

(AM & EM)