Keohane hits a high

Leopardstown report: Cork teenager Helen Keohane put her fellow Flat jockeys in the shade when partnering Queen Astrid in the Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last night. Keohane, who recorded her initial success on Cedar Wells at Clonmel just over a year ago, displayed a cool head and good judgement of pace when making virtually all on the Liam Browne-trained filly.

The 18-year-old Bantry girl is apprenticed to Browne, and this 19th victory of her career obviously meant just as much to her boss. "Helen is a very dedicated rider, and a keen worker. The spell she had in Dubai over the winter did her a lot of good, and remember it's only her third year riding. I'm delighted for her," said Browne. "I've only five in training at the moment, and Helen is one of the main reasons I kept going this year."

Follow benefitted from a step up in trip when taking the six-furlong fillies maiden under Michael Kinane. The Aidan O'Brien-trained two-year-old made all, and stretched clear in the straight to beat Acciacatura by two lengths. The same partnership followed up in the finale when Mingun, a daughter of champion racemare Miesque, quickened up nicely at the furlong pole to land the mile maiden.

O'Brien was also fancied to take the seven-furlong auction maiden with the odds-on Mahogany, but he could find no extra when headed over a furlong out by Jemmy's Brother. Ger Lyons' charge drew clear under Pat Cosgrave to beat Marjell by two and a half lengths.

Permit holder Dermot Murphy, who numbers John Murtagh among the clients of his gardening business, teamed up with the former champion to land the seven-furlong handicap with Twiggy's Sister. The five-year-old mare was prominent throughout to beat favourite Bricks And Porter by a comfortable length, and Murphy will now "black type with her".

Legend Has It got his handicapping career off to a winning start when sweeping home on the stands side under Pat Smullen to beat Fascinating by a length and a half in the 0-70 event. Billy Lee was given a three-day ban for excessive use of the whip on third placed Pilgrims Progress.

Curragh racecourse manager Paul Hensey believes the going will be no worse than yielding for the Entenmann's Irish Guineas meeting this weekend.

Hensey revealed that fresh ground would be saved on Sunday for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup, which will include the Henry Cecil-trained Burning Sun.