Lyons and Keane double up with Mutasarref

Mutasarref defied top weight of 10st 2lb to bring up doubles for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane on the opening day of Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh.

The 9/4 favourite travelled strongly in touch behind Punk Poet inside halfway of the seven furlong handicap and tanked into the lead racing to the final furlong.

One he had his head in front, Keane gave him the office and the four-year-old gelding began to assert inside the final furlong.

He edged across to the far rail but was still full of running as he fended off the closers. All In The Mind was gambled on from 14/1 to 17/2 and ran creditably in second, beaten half a length.

As racecourse commentator Jerry Hannon noted, nothing was going quicker than Ice Cold In Alex in the closing stages. He unleashed his customary late rattle but had to settle for third at 7/1, beaten a length by the winner.

“His trip is seven furlongs, he didn't get the trip the last day and was a bit unlucky in Cork,” said Lyons.

“All roads lead to Champions Weekend. The whole journey with this horse is about Eleanora (Kennedy, owner), it's her first time in racing and he's won twice for her this year when she's been in town.

“That's the most important thing, for him to win when she is here to see him.”

Lyons and Keane also teamed up with newcomer Slan Abhaile in the opening two-year-old maiden on the card.

The Stewards enquired into the circumstances surrounding Camdeboo and Higher Kingdom, both of which were withdrawn at the start, where Higher Kingdom had to be led from the stalls back to the stableyard with Camdeboo having being taken back in the Blue Cross Horse Ambulance. Evidence was heard from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Starter Mr. J.R. Banahan, Racecourse vet, Mr. Ernan O'Donnell, Blue Cross Ambulance driver, Ms. Laura Bert, and trainer of Higher Kingdom, Mr J.C. O'Connell. Having considered all the evidence, the Stewards felt a resources issue appeared to be the main reason for Higher Kingdom having to be led back. They deemed this to be unacceptable and were of the opinion there should be two Blue Cross Ambulances at each race meeting so they referred the matter to the CEO of The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for further investigation.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson