Bear Creek brings up Down Royal double for McMonagle and O'Brien The Joseph O'Brien trained Bear Creek stepped up on a promising handicap debut to easily land the concluding Ampion Your Partner For Safety, Efficiency And Compliance Handicap at Down Royal. In doing so, the 15/8f was completing a double for trainer O'Brien and jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. In fact, it was an across the card treble for O'Brien, who was also amongst the winners at Killarney earlier in the day. Third on his first foray into handicap company at Limerick recently, Bear Creek benefited from that experience to record the first victory of his career. Held up in mid-division, McMonagle came through over a furlong out to head Trubshaw, staying on strongly to win by two-lengths. Dylan Browne McMonagle said: "He did it well. "Plenty of pace on early and I ended up a little bit further back than I would have liked to be, but I just kept it simple on him. He's sharpening up with racing. "In fairness to him, he found plenty for pressure. Stepping up in distance was definitely a big help today. "He's an improving horse, so delighted to get his head in front. "He's sticking to handicaps and see how it goes, and hopefully he is not finished yet." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
