Angel Palanas and Luke McAteer go from strength to strength and they combined for a third success on the bounce as the Donegal rider doubled up in the finale at Leopardstown, the seven furlong 50 to 80 handicap.

McAteer won on Adamaris for Ger O’Leary earlier, and here he took the reins on Angel Palanas for Castlecomer handler Pat Murphy.

A winner at Listowel and Tipperary on his last couple of starts, the six-year-old Mayson gelding defied the assessor again, by three parts of a length and half a length from Reverberation and Ducky Mallon

Less than a length and three parts split the first five home.

“He’s progressing well and improving with every run. He’s healthy and has a great constitution so we are able to bring him back fairly quick,” said Murphy.

“Seven furlongs suits him as he’s able to settle and has the turn of foot to burn them off in the last two furlongs.

“Hopefully he’ll be able to get another one before he goes to the sales in the first week of November.

“Luke is riding out of his skin.”

(AM & EM)