Lyons and Roche bag Down Royal’s opener Sir Alfie further enhanced the form-lines of yesterday’s Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin in landing Down Royal’s opening Harvertech Maiden today, scoring at odds of 22/1 for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Leigh Roche. Dark Angel-sired Sir Alfie finished last of four and 9.75 lengths behind yesterday’s Royal Ascot winner at Naas on May 18 but today, in a lesser race, broke well from a wide draw in 15, raced prominently and rallied well to beat runner-up Silver Flash by a neck. It was Roche’s fifth win for Lyons, whose brother Shane reported "Sir Alfie is a nice horse, we always liked him and he showed plenty of speed. He was plenty green the first time out but that run was put to good use and it just shows you what we are coming up against in Ireland. "He finished fourth of four against a very, very good horse then, so I don't know why people didn't see that today. "Leigh was very impressed, he said the runner-up came to him and he put his head down. The way he ran out, he will get further and is a nice horse going forward. He has improved with every week and will improve again. "It is beautiful ground and compliments to Brian Hamilton (clerk of the course) and his team." Quotes from Michael Graham
