Lyons and Keane win Birdcatcher for second year in a row

For the second year in a row trainer Ger Lyons and the reigning champion jockey Colin Keane were victorious in the Matchbook Irish EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery as Chicago May made every yard of the running for a three parts of a length success over Dandys Ocean. “She’s not easy and she’s difficult at home and Colin rides her out most days so he deserves this,” reported Lyons. “Still, you can’t argue what this filly has done on her two runs for us and she’s done it the hard way today, she was all guts. Hopefully she’ll strengthen up over the winter to be a stakes filly for us next year.” Cedars Of Lebanon capped a tremendous season for Patrick Prendergast with an all the way success in the €120,000 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race Final. Just a few weeks on from their Moyglare Stakes victory with Skitter Scatter Prendergast and jockey Ronan Whelan successfully combined once more with this €11,000 filly who was one of the cheapest yearling purchases in the line up. The tough Cedars Of Lebanon never saw another rival after jumping off at the head of the field and she finished with two lengths to spare over the outsider Sunblessed. “This is a great series and a marvellous race to win so I’m thrilled. This filly lazy at home and that’s probably why she has lasted the season so well. At home she just eats and sleeps,” said Prendergast. “I’d love to get black type with her but I think that could be it for the season and we’ll try to get that with her next year.” Aidan O’Brien ended the day with a treble and he supplied the winners of the two Listed races on the card, both of which were ridden by Seamus Heffernan. First up was Sarrocchi in the Listed Rathasker Clodovil Irish EBF Garnet Stakes. Seamus Heffernan built up a good lead over the chasing pack and although Sarrochi tired late on she got home by three parts of a length from the 33/1 shot Damselfly. It was then the turn of Curly in the Rathasker Bungle Inthejungle EBF Bluebell Stakes and Heffernan once again made the running on this filly who finished two and a quarter lengths ahead of Dynabee. Both Sarrocchi and Curly will now be retired to stud.   The next fixture at Naas is the Flat Finale on November 4 where the champions of the 2018 Irish Flat season will be crowned