Limerick's Billy Lee continues to set the pace at Fairyhouse

At the start of the week the Limerick jockey was on 34 winners, his closest pursuer Colin Keane on 26.

Amavasya was another to fill the number one slot for Lee when finishing strongest in one of the ten-furlong handicaps at Fairyhouse on Friday.

The 11-1 chance got up by a neck, cajoled by Lee for Curragh trainer Michael Grassick and owner William Keeling.

Lee added another winner on Sunday at Navan on Jurality for Longford trainer Paul Flynn.

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Elsewhere, Dermot Weld has endured a much slower start to the season than normal, but there have been strong signs of a resurgence in recent weeks.

Purview looked a horse of Group 1 potential when bolting up by six lengths at the Curragh on Guineas weekend and his trainer added to the tally when Amenita won the mile fillies’ maiden which opened the Bank Holiday card at Gowran Park last Monday.

With jockey Chris Hayes in the silks of owner and breeder Moyglare Stud, Amenita raced close up and hit the lead with about 100 yards to race to win by half a length as the well-backed 9-4 favourite.

“I know her family well. I trained her dam to win Group races and this is a progressive filly who I think can also get black type as we go on with her. The further she went today, the better she went,” Weld said on Racing TV.

Trainer Charles and jockey Philip Byrnes put a difficult week behind them with a winner at Listowel on Monday last when Spy battled to victory in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

The win did not appear very likely as the field jumped the final hurdle, but Byrnes Jr was able to get every ounce from his mount in the final 50 yards to lead by half a length at the line.

The father and son team met with a setback the week prior when their Marian Avenue was disqualified from winning at Limerick for interference at the second last hurdle for which Philip was hit with a 21-day ban.