Dermot Weld edged ever closer to breaking J.J. Parkinson`s record of 2577 wins in Ireland when Francis Bay and Ansar both supplied him with his 8th victory of the week.
Paul Carberry simply oozed confidence aboard Francis Bay (3/1jf) as he simply toyed with River Cora and Norman Williamson up the run-in before scoring by a very cheeky neck.
'That was a brilliant ride from Paul and that`s the third year in a row Francis Bay has won here. Hopefully he`ll come back for the Plate next year,' said Weld.
Ansar (4/6f) shrugged off the challenge of Pillar Rock, who looked a big threat approaching the dip, to score in the finale.
The Rosewell House handler needs just one more winner to equal the record set by J.J. Parkinson back in 1947 and is hopeful of getting the two required to break it.
Pat Hughes saddled the winner of the featured Guiness Handicap when Grinkov (5/1-11/2) scored in the hands of Fran Berry.
'The draw was a big help and he probably got to the front sooner than he wanted. He needs an ease and he`ll probably run again in a maiden hurdle on Sunday,' said a delighted Hughes.
Tragic Lover (8/1) refused to load under Mick Kinane and was withdrawn resulting in a 10p in # deduction to all winning bets.
Shereevagh, owned by the Run For Fun Syndicate headed up by Dublin businessmen Conor Clarkson and Enda Hunston, got up in the dying stride to deny top-weight Rith Dubh on the line in the opener.
Partnered by Peter Casey, Tom McCourt`s 10/1 chance responded gamely to a determined drive to pip Alan Crowe`s mount in the dying stride.
There was a sting in the tail for the winning rider Peter Casey when he was banned for 3 days for using his whip with excessive frequency.
'He`s lazy but he came home well in the end,' said in-form Mick Kinane after his mount Rostropovich (1/1f) came home 3/4L clear of Cymbeline in the 12f maiden.
Tommy Cramody notched up his second success of the meeting for English owner Mark Barrett when Markskeepingfaith (8/1) came out best in a blanket finish to the 1m 100yrds handicap.
The winner was recording her 3rd victory in as many years at Ballybrit.
Bookmakers were on the receiving end of a real body blow when Jim Bolger`s newcomer Galanta (5/2-11/10f)justified substantial support from the fast-finishing
Langkawi Island in the 7f maiden.
Providing Kevin Manning with a near 18/1 double, the Desert Style colt ran very green in the closing stages but still held on to leave the layers reeling.
He is entered in the #200,000 Tattersalls Breeders Stakes over 6f at the Curragh on August 26th.
Another record was set when a Tote aggregate of #630,958 was recorded shattering the previous best Friday tally of #458,897 set back in 1992.
