HAVING seen his lead in the championship race reduced to a single winner when Kevin Manning rode a treble at Leopardstown on Saturday, Johnny Murtagh was a relieved man when landing the Castlegar EBF Maiden at a rain-swept Galway yesterday.

As Manning failed to improve on his score, Murtagh increased his lead to two winners when landing 4 to 7 favourite, Zafarabad, a one length winner ahead of the Manning ridden Our Bart.

Murtagh was then beaten by the narrowest of margins on Swift Cert in the Bank of Ireland international division handicap, which was won by All the Vowels, ridden by Ted Durcan for trainer John Mulhern.

lftatah landed the gamble of the day when winning the Bank of Ireland Credit Card Handicap for Kevin Prendergast and Willie Supple, who heads to Dubai tomorrow.

lftatah was backed from 14 to 1 to 8 to 1 and came from well off the pace to win by a length.

Moonax finished second in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp yesterday. Pat Eddery's mount was unsuited by the slow early pace and lost out in the sprint to Red Roses Story by half a length. Helen Of Spain like Moonax sporting the colours of Sheik Mohammed was three quarters of a length away in third.

Barry Hills, Moonax's trainer said: "He would have been suited by a faster pace. He'll be schooled over hurdles now with the Champion Hurdle as his target." Britain also filled the runner-up spot in the supporting Group Three Prix do Petit Couvert with Croft Pool chasing home Don't Worry Me by two lengths.