Sir Ector and his jubilant connections© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Jimmy Lambe realised a personal ambition when Sir Ector landed the feature Magners Ulster Derby at Down Royal.
County Armagh-based Lambe had the valuable premier handicap high on the list of races he would dearly love to win, and Sir Ector (14-1) delivered the goods under a fine Chris Hayes ride.
English raider Scatter Dice tried to lead all the way and was still just about in front at the furlong pole, but Sir Ector swept past to score by a convincing two and a half lengths, with the favourite Maggie Dalton taking second.
Hayes was completing a double, having won the Rainbow Communications EBF Median Auction Maiden on Kevin Prendergast's Zakhm who was sent off the 1-5 favourite and gave supporters a scare before getting past front-runner Ubiquitous Mantle to win by half a length.
Jim Bolger has had bigger fish to fry at Royal Ascot this week but he picked up a nice pot nearer home when Fionnuar took the EBF Coolmore Stud Ulster Oaks.
It was a fine front-running performance from the four-year-old (5-1), who lengthened clear in the straight under claimer Dylan Robinson and ran on too strongly for Valbucca winning by a length with the rest well beaten.< Patrickswell s attempt to win the Taste At downroyal Handicap for a fourth time came up short when the grey was run out of it inside the final furlong and had to settle for third behind Eamonn O'Connell's in-form Sassaway
The 3-1 favourite, a spare ride for Declan McDonogh after Fergal Lynch broke his collarbone on Friday night, burst through to win decisively, holding the charge of Boughtforasong by half a length.
Johnny Murtagh had a great Royal Ascot in the saddle and he put one on the scoreboard in his new career as a trainer when the Niall McCullagh-ridden Cyclone (5-2 favourite) cleared away to take the Louis Roederer Handicap by three and a half lengths.
