Chris Hayes is enjoying a fine season and the jockey completed a double at Down Royal today when steering the Paul Deegan trained Park Rebel to a most-of-the-way win in the Apple Orchard Handicap.

Hayes' double brings his current half-season total to 32 winners and following Park Rebel's win, Deegan stated "Chris is riding really well at the moment."

He added "it was nice to get his (Park Rebel) head in front as he has always shown a little bit but has had a couple of issues which we got ironed out.

He's going the right way, is progressive and hopefully there's another one or two in him. He was very green in front and he idled a little bit coming to the line.

"There's lots of improvement in him and he'll make someone a nice jumper as he's a big, strong, staying type of horse. He'll go for something similar then to the sales at the end of the year."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham