Lyons and Keane on form ahead of Irish 2,000 Guineas

PA Sport Reporters
June 11, 2020 6:30 pm

The duo have a double at Gowran.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane enjoyed a nice boost ahead of the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas as they hit a double at Gowran on Thursday.

The duo team up with favourite Siskin in the Curragh Classic on Friday and his work partner Bucky Larson (7-2 favourite) came out on top in the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap to complete a brace for Lyons’ team.

The winning handler’s brother Shane said: “He is a brilliant workhorse and is a work companion for Siskin.

“We had planned to run him in the Lincoln, but he didn’t make the cut.

“The big worry was the seven-furlong trip today, but the watered ground played to his strengths and he deserved that.

“We’ll look to get him into one of those big handicaps.”

Maker Of Kings had earlier triumphed on his debut for Lyons in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.

Placed on all four runs at two for Gordon Elliott, Maker Of Kings (7-2) held the challenge of Ming Warrior by three-quarters of a length.

“Seven furlongs is as sharp as he wants, but the secret is ground for him. He’d appreciate more ease, but Eddie Scally and his team here have done a top class job with the ground,” said Shane Lyons.

“There are plenty of options for him and he could step up to a mile next and will eventually go a mile and a quarter.”

Trainer Denis Hogan sent out his third winner since racing resumed on Monday as Mulzamm (15-2) grabbed the first division of the Download The BoyleSports App Handicap by a short head in the hands of Joe Doyle.

“He needs to be delivered on time and Joe was brilliant on him,” said Hogan.

“He is owned by a syndicate set up by my secretary, Jessica Cahalan, and he’ll be kept busy during the summer.”

The second division went to Henry de Bromhead’s Annexation while Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley kept up their strong run of form with Bella Brazil (5-1) in the Play Golf At Gowran Park Handicap.