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Browne McMonagle strikes in Down Royal finale

Glenroyal (maroon and white) beats Railwayview Lady (yellow sleeves) Glenroyal (maroon and white) beats Railwayview Lady (yellow sleeves)
© Healy Racing Photos

Having seen his jockeys' title rival Colin Keane narrow the gap when winning on Stars Will Shine earlier in the afternoon, Dylan Browne McMonagle restored his lead to five when riding Glenroyal (15/8 fav) to victory in Down Royal's concluding Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap over 1m5f.

Ray Grehan's three-year-old had been given a break since running on successive days at the Galway festival where he had won on his first appearance before finishing down the field 24 hours later.

Here, having tracked the leaders, the Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding hit the front over a furlong out and stayed on well to hold Railwayview Lady by a neck. 

Dylan Browne McMonagle said: "He stays well. He's a horse that will have no problem stepping up in trip in time. 

"He's only a baby still and he hasn't many miles, so he is only going to progress with a bit of age. 

"It was a nice even race for me, I was able to get comfortable to halfway and keep a nice smooth passage throughout. 

"He probably didn't do a whole lot when he got there and when the second horse got to him at the furlong pole, he went again so he has more to come. "

"The first day when he won in Galway, he looked like he could go and win the second day but he is still a little bit immature and it probably came a little bit quick for him. There wasn't a whole lot of diesel in the tank the second day, so Joseph has freshened him up good and he has come here in good shape today. 

"Hopefully, he can go forward again."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
15/8Fav
Tote €2.88 €1.10
2nd
nk
6/1
€2.70
3rd
2.5L
16/1
€3.20
4th
2.25L
5/1
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.