'It's been a good tussle' - old stalwart Bucky Larson seals Keane's fourth title

Wednesday: Dundalk

In the end, it only took one.

As word filtered through before racing on Wednesday that Billy Lee's appeal against a suspension that would put him out of action for the two remaining meetings of the 2022 Flat season had been dismissed, there was every chance that Colin Keane would only need one winner on the day to be crowned champion jockey for the fourth time. And so it proved.

One wonders whether Ger Lyons would have put his old stalwart Bucky Larson into a claimer if Keane had not needed a winner but, whatever the reason, the seven-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand had little trouble in justifying 2-5 favouritism in the opening race of the afternoon.

He showed far too much class for his opponents in scoring by four and a half lengths and, as expected, was claimed for €15,000 and will continue his career with Kilkenny trainer Dick Donohoe.

Keane said: "He was coming down the handicap all year and I thought he was coming back to himself in a competitive handicap here last time. He was entitled to it and thankfully he went and did it."

Reflecting later on his achievement, he said: "It's been a good tussle and it's great to come out on the right end of it. With Billy gone for the last two days it does take the fun out of it for people watching, but it does take the pressure off us and maybe we can enjoy it now after a hard grind all year."

Paying tribute to Lee, Keane added: "Billy would have been a very deserving winner and he could be in the same position this time next year. The yards he rides for are getting bigger and stronger every year and who is to say he won't be challenging again."

As to the highlight of the season, he said: "Winning the Irish Derby on Westover. Winning another Classic was great, especially in those colours, and winning your first Derby are the days you work hard for."

Queen advances

Amid proceedings being dominated by the jockeys' championship, there were one or two smart horses on display and nothing impressed more than the Joseph O'Brien-trained filly Queen Maedbh who bolted up in the 6f juvenile maiden.

The daughter of Gleneagles had impressed in a barrier trial here in June before finishing second in a Leopardstown maiden in July for Gavin Cromwell.

Dropped back to six furlongs on her stable debut here she showed plenty of pace under Mikey Sheehy, before quickening clear inside the final furlong to beat second favourite and decent yardstick Catherine Of Siena by two and three-quarter lengths.

O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said: "Hopefully she progresses, she has had a long break since we got her. Mikey said that she travelled the whole way and just picked up nicely.

"She could be exciting. At home she would be very relaxed and it would be hard to gauge what she is, but without a doubt she showed a lot more speed here than she has done at home."

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