Tom McCourt, who trains in Stamullen, landed his first double of his training career when Raining and Rainbow Dash won in good style at Navan this afternoon.
Raining, a runaway winner in testing conditions at the last meeting here, followed up in no uncertain terms under talented apprentice David Moran in the Ireland Welcomes Australia Handicap.
Clear from halfway, the 7 to 1 chance came home a five-length winner prompting McCourt to say, 'She went up 10lbs in the ratings for winning last time and I expect there is another hike on the way. She does not need soft ground and good ground might help her get a bit further.'
Pat Cosgrave partnered Rainbow Dash to win the Navan Racecourse Family Day Race, the 16 to 1 chance holding off the gambled-on Splendour to win by a length.
McCourt said, 'I bought her for 7,000 guineas at the Newmarket Horses-In-Training Sale and she came from Michael Stoute's. She was pretty weak when we got her but she has strengthened up a good deal and she will go over hurdles later in the year.'
Michael Grassick went one better with a treble which he shared with stable jockey Niall McCullagh.
His first-timer La Tintoretta proved good enough to win the Coolmore Spinning World Maiden and Cayteva battled well to land the opening division of the Ultimate Security Technologies Handicap.
In between those two winners, Crimphill gained a fully deserved success in the Listed EBF Salsabil Stakes.
In front over two furlongs out, the well supported 5 to 1 chance held on to win from the John Oxx-trained pair of Canouan and Fenella's Link.
There was a surprise result in the Coolmore King Charlemagne EBF Fillies Maiden with the Harry Rogers-trained newcomer Moon Unit getting up in the closing stages for victory.
The 14 to 1 chance, which paid over 65 to 1 on the Tote, finished well to beat the experienced pair of Follow and Charmed Forest by a head and short head.
Johnny Murtagh and John Oxx landed the 9f handicap with the Dundalk Racing Club's Tempter who made returned with a half-a-length success over the fast finishing Eurolink Rooster.
