Great shot of all seven runners in the opener with Calm Bay leading them home© Photo Healy Racing
Calm Bay ran out an easy winner of the opener at Down Royal, the Louis Roederer Handicap, scoring under Robbie Downey for Harry Rogers.
The eight-year-old son of Medecis went up eleven pounds for winning at Navan on his last start, proving Keith Moriarty with his maiden success on his first ever ride.
Having opened the 2/1 favourite this morning he was friendless with punters drifting out to 9/2 at the off.
Drawn widest of all in stall seven he broke smartly and was settled just behind the leaders in third on the outer.
He was ridden over a furlong from home and soon went to the front, keeping on strongly inside the final furlong to score easily by four and three parts of a length. Seal Rock who went off the 5/2 favourite (was 7/2 this morning), finished second under Chris Hayes for Andrew Oliver. Patrickswell who won this race in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and was third in it last year finished last of the seven runners under Leigh Roche for Marcus Callaghan.
Robbie Downey said afterwards: "He was very good and he pinged the gates."
Harry Rogers added: "He won and that's the main thing. The seven pound claim was a big help and they went very quick.
"He got a fair lift for winning in Navan. Bellewstown is out after that now.
"He's in at Tipperary next Thursday under the 5lb penalty. He's got a good patient owner! [his wife Mary]. We've 16 riding out now."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
