Limerick success on the double at glamorous Royal Ascot

THERE was Limerick success on the double at last week's world renowned Royal Ascot race meeting.

It was another highly successful week for Irish trained, ridden and owned horses at Royal Ascot with a tally of 10 Irish-trained winners.

Limerick jockey, Billy Lee had a week to remember recording an impressive double of successes. Lee teamed up with trainer Henry De Bromhead to claim the Ascot Stakes with 20/1 chance Ascending on Tuesday.

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Also on Tuesday Gstaad (7/2) was the first for the visitors when landing the Coventry Stakes for trainer Aidan O'Brien under Ryan Moore. Incidentally, Joseph O'Brien trained the next three home in that race. Colin Keane cemented his role as retained jockey to Juddmonte when partnering 8/11f Field Of Gold to success in the featured St James's Palace Stakes. 

Billy Lee rode his second winner of the week on Wednesday when teaming up with trainer Paddy Twomey who was enjoying a first Royal Ascot success with Carmers (9/2) in the Queen's Vase.

The Irish had made a great start on Wednesday, winning the first two races. True Love and Ryan Moore landed the Queen Mary Stakes at 9/4f for Aidan O'Brien.

Charles Darwin gave O'Brien and Moore a third of the week when taking the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday. Garden Of Eden (7/1) made it four for the partnership when winning the Ribblesdale Stakes later in the afternoon. Trinity College completed a treble for Ballydoyle when justifying 5/2f in the Hampton Court Stakes. 

Joseph Murphy and Gary Carroll enjoyed a breakthrough Group 1 success with Cercene (33/1) in Fridays Coronation Stakes. Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore teamed up with Ethical Diamond to land the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap. 

Seamie Heffernan enjoyed a first Royal Ascot winner since 2019 when landing Saturdays Wokingham Handicap on Get It (28/1) for George Baker. The Irish ended the week just as they started, with Ryan Moore partnering the Willie Mullins trained Sober (4/5f) to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes. 

Meanwhile, back in Ireland, highly-rated Abbeyfeale jockey Paddy Harnett rode Happy Pharoah to win the one-and-a-half-mile maiden at Leopardstown on Thursday for Donnacha O'Brien. Owned by Frank Lynch, the 9/1 chance stayed on strongly to score by half-a-length. 

Shanagolden jockey Chris Hayes won the one-mile-four-furlong Listed race at Limerick on Saturday on Uluru. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, the 6/1 chance stayed on well to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths for owners Team Valor International LLC. 

Back from Royal Ascot, Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee rode Letiza to win the one-mile-two-furlong handicap at Down Royal on Saturday.

Trained by Henry De Bromhead, the 6/5f scored by three-quarters-of-a-length for the All Stars Racing Syndicate. Lee completed a double in the next race, as 9/4 chance Royal Entry landed the one-mile-two-furlong Ulster Oaks for Paddy Twomey.

Owned by Mrs Marguerite Joyce, the filly prevailed by half-a-length. Billy Lee later completed a treble aboard the Noel Meade trained Billie Frechette in the one-mile-four-furlong handicap. Sent off 3/1, the winner scored by two-lengths in the colours of Noel Meade Racing Ltd. 

Upcoming Fixtures:

Naas – Wednesday, June 25 (First race 5.10pm)

Curragh – Friday, June 27 (First race 4.50pm) Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

Curragh – Saturday, June 28 (First race 1.15pm) Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

Curragh – Sunday, June 29 (First race 1.15pm) Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival