Silverkode confirmed himself on a steep upward trajectory when bringing up a Curragh hat-trick in the Irish Mail On Sunday Handicap.

Gary Carroll had to sit and suffer on the Tom Egan-owned and Joe Murphy-trained Kodiac gelding.

However, when switched and in the clear 5/2 favourite Silverkode showed an impressive change of gear to mow down St Brelades Bay by a length.

"That was very impressive. He had a lay up as he had a drop a week ago and he had a sale to Hong Kong (that didn't work out) that delayed him by two week so we thought he would have needed the run," said Murphy.

"I think he's a good horse after that performance. Gary said he didn't get the luck of the race but he done it well. It's only his fourth run so you'd have to rate him.

"I think Galway is a bit soon and I don't think he'd get in. I think he'd get a 6lb penalty but from my ratings this morning I don't think that gets him in.

"I'll probably look at the big handicap on Irish Champion's Day as an end of season target."

(GC & EM)