Ruby Walsh moved on to the 31-winner mark for the season when partnering a quick-fire double at Down Royal on Saturday. Sophronia was the first of the jockey's pair to oblige, leading from an early stage to take the opening maiden hurdle by six lengths. Walsh followed up in the next aboard another favourite Moon Shot, who was completing a hat-trick of handicap hurdle successes for the Galway-based Pearse Racing Club.
Pillar Rock ran out a very impressive seven-length scorer in the featured #10,000 HM Plate. The well-backed 5/2 shot moved through effortlessly under Charlie Swan to lead entering the final furlong and was soon clear of his toiling rivals. Favourite Mudaa-Eb could only manage a disappointing third.
Five-pound claimer Danny Grant had an afternoon he will probably wish to forget. The apprentice suffered narrow defeats on Summer Break and Freya, and was then forced to give up the ride on his boss Pat Flynn's Steval in the last due to a hand injury. Needless to say, the 8/1 chance obliged in another tight finish under substitute Pat Cosgrave.
