Star another for Lavery & Whelan

After scoring with Hillcrest Fire at Cork yesterday, Sheila Lavery and Ronan Whelan combined for another success this afternoon, as Twin Star took the Matthew Agri Maiden.

Down the field on debut at Leopardstown last October, the son of Tagula put in a much improved display at Cork last month, keeping on well to finish sixth behind Golden Spinner.

Upped in trip to a mile and two, he was available at 25's last night, opening on-course at just 11/2, before going off a 6/1 chance.

Settled in mid-division, the chestnut victor was being niggled along from halfway, and was ridden with three furlong left to race.

He appeared to be struggling at that stage, but got going inside the final two furlongs, getting to the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well to score by a length and three parts. Clongowes who was sent off the 9/10 favourite, had to settle for second yet again under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger. Spanish Steps (3/1) completed the placings another length and a half back in third under Ana O'Brien for her father Aidan.

Lavery said afterwards: "I thought early on in the race he was in trouble but Ronan said he's just still really green, just a big baby. Then when he got him travelling he actually wasn't worried.

"He's said he's versatile ground wise and could step up in trip but can stay at that trip and there's still more improvement in him.

"It's nice when they come back and say there is loads more improvement there.

"He took a heave then flattened out. I was worried going to the start had I done enough work with him.

"He was a very weak two-year-old so it's taken him a while to come to hand. I'm delighted.

"He has a great brain and seems to take his racing well. Last time he came home, just tucked in and ate up.

"We'll see what mark he gets and have a look at the calendar. There is a three-year-old only handicap over this trip here next month so we may aim at that."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson