Countess Of Tyrone and Billy Lee. © Photo Healy Racing
Billy Lee recorded a double on the evening when guiding the Paddy Twomey trained Countess Of Tyrone to a hard fought success in the featured Listed His Majesty's Plate at Down Royal.
Winner of a Galway maiden on her racecourse debut last August, the daughter of Australia found the step into Listed class a bridge too far at that stage of her career but coped with that grade in admirable fashion here.
Prominent throughout under Billy Lee, the 7/2 chance arrived up alongside leader Prairie Dancer travelling strongly over three furlongs out.
Allowed stride on and take over in front shortly after, Lee kicked off the home bend to open up a gap on his rivals. Esquiline emerged from the chasing group to throw down a serious challenge inside the final furlong but couldn't ever quite get to the eventual winner.
In staying on strongly to repel the Johnny Murtagh trained runner-up by a neck, jockey Billy Lee completed a brace.
Paddy Twomey said: "She handled it (step up in trip) well there today and I thought this race might suit her a couple of weeks ago.
"I'm delighted the way she did it.
"Her brother (Earl Of Tyrone) was good and she's a nice filly. It is great to win a stakes race with her and hopefully she can continue in these stakes races."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
