Limerick jockey Billy Lee enjoys five winners in one week of racing

RIDDEN by Wesley Joyce, the Philip Byrne-trained nine-year-old Out On Friday landed the 12-furlong handicap at Roscommon on Monday, May 19.

He registered his eighth career success when making all the running and then holding off the challenge of Ger O’Leary’s 18/1 chance Action Plan and Shane Foley by a neck. 

Paddy Twomey notched up his first treble when dominating at Cork on Tuesday evening where each of his winners were ridden by Billy Lee. The in-form pairing struck straight away as the Rogues Gallery Partnership-owned Rogue Legend easily won the opening five-furlong median sires series maiden for two-year-olds. A strong 4/6 favourite, he raced up with the pace and led over a furlong out to beat Jarlath Fahey’s 80/1 chance The Right One by two and a quarter lengths. The 1/3 favourite No Alibi had to work far harder for her success in the six-furlong maiden for three-year-olds. Running a very similar race to Rogues Legend, she just about outbattled the Willie McCreery-trained Stella Alpina to score by a nose in the colours of Merry Fox Stud.

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Owned and bred by Marguerite Joyce, the four-year-old Royal Entry completed the trebles with a clear-cut success in the 12-furlong fillies’ maiden. The 85/40 chance looked in all sorts of trouble when losing many lengths to her rivals from the stalls, but she was bang in contention by halfway and was well on top when leading over a furlong out to beat Joseph O'Brien’s 6/5 favourite Tswalu by two and a quarter lengths. 

Billy Lee and Paddy Twomey were winners again at Gowran Park on Wednesday evening where the three-year-old Inventress landed the eight-furlong median auction fillies’ maiden. A strong 8/11 favourite, she made all the running and came home a length clear of the Michael O'Callaghan-trained 4/1 shot Its All Peachy.

Chris Hayes and Dermot Weld shared two winners at the meeting. Pierre Royal readily justified his short odds to win the eight-furlong maiden for the team. A 4/9 favourite, he made all the running to beat the Natalia Lupini-trained 7/2 chance Bishopton by three and three-parts of a length for owners/breeders Moyglare Stud Farm. At odds of 7/2, the three-year-old Deressa completed the doubles in the nine-furlong fillies’ race. She led inside the final 100 yards to record a comfortable one and a quarter-length success over the Fozzy Stack-trained 6/1 shot Gotomylovely with Joseph O'Brien’s 2/1 favourite Lemsairbat three-parts of a length away in third place. Apprentice Jessica O’Gorman rode her fifth winner when partnering the Paul Fahey-trained Omakase to take the concluding two-mile handicap. In the colours of the Bobby’s Dream Syndicate, the 7/1 chance led passing the two-furlong pole and only needed to be pushed out to score by two lengths from the Martin Hassett-trained 8/1 shot Bynx. 

The Storytellers Syndicate-owned Tippin And Tappin won the two and three-quarter-mile handicap chase for trainer Enda Bolger at Limerick on Thursday. Ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, the 11/2 chance came with his challenge at the final fence and got on top close to the finish to deny Paul Gilligan’s front-running 8/1 shot Cloughroe by half a length. The winning jockey followed up straight away on the JP McManus-owned and Edward O'Grady-trained 100/30 chance Priory Park in the concluding three-mile one-furlong handicap chase.

Chris Hayes landed a double at the Curragh on Friday evening where he rode winners for Dermot Weld and John Kinsella. He partnered Weld’s 5/2 chance Fingerpaint a he made a winning debut in the seven-furlong maiden. The Juddmonte owned and bred three-year-old came through late on to deny the Jessica Harrington-trained 11/4 shot Collecting Coin by a neck. 

Billy Lee brought his tally for the week to five winners when partnering Andy Oliver’s Apercu to take the 10-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Saturday. A 9/1 chance, the five-year-old led passing the two-furlong pole and battled well to hold off Andy Slattery’s 6/1 shot Cloud Seeker by a shorthead. 

Upcoming Fixtures

Ballinrobe – Tuesday, May 27 (First race 5pm)

Tipperary – Tuesday, May 27 (First race 5.20pm)

Wexford – Wednesday, May 28 (First race 4.55pm)

Fairyhouse – Thursday, May 29 (First race 5.27pm)

Limerick – Thursday, May 29 (First race 5.42pm)

Down Royal - Friday, May 30 (First race 4.55pm)

Tramore – Friday, May 30 (First race 5.05pm)

Tramore – Saturday, May 31 (First race 5.10pm)

Listowel – Saturday, May 31 (First race 1.55pm)

Listowel – Sunday, June 1 (First race 1.57pm)

Kilbeggan – Sunday, June 1 (First race 2.15pm)