Royal Canford and Billy Lee © Photo Healy Racing
The Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Handicap (Div I) provided Billy Lee with a quick double as Royal Canford (7/2), second at the Festival last year, went one place better.
Supporters of the Canford Cliffs filly would have been very hopeful throughout, as she raced in a share of the lead having broken well from stall one.
She was always travelling well within herself and, once Lee kicked her a few lengths clear turning in, she never looked like being caught.
She crossed the line two and a half lengths ahead of the staying-on Billyfairplay while the 5/2 favourite Lady Scathach didn’t have much luck in running and never landed a blow as she finished 11th.
The winning rider said: “She had a good run here last year over a mile and I knew I had speed because she won over six furlongs at the Curragh making all.
"I had a very good draw, I was keen to make use of it as I didn't see a whole lot of pace in the race and I was able to dictate.
"She is a bit quirky and has the blinkers on but when you have her on a going day she is hard to pass."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
