Rayouni wins impressively

THE Aga Khan's Rayouni, the impressive winner of yesterday's second division of the Elverstown Maiden and the first leg of an easily gained treble for John Murtagh, previously finished fourth on her debut in a Leopardstown Maiden which has now produced five winners including the runner up Desert King, who was successful in the Group One National Stakes.

The ease in the ground suited the John Oxx trained winner who will next run in the Group Two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on October 19th.

Murtagh completed his treble when landing the Narraghmore Maiden with North Of What and the Beggars End Race with French Ballerina. Trained by Paddy Mullins and bred by his wife Maureen, North Of What had previously run well to finish a five length seventh in the Irish Cambridgeshire.

French Ballerina, a respectable fifth in the Irish Oaks, led inside the distance and drew clear. The Pat Flynn trained filly will now go hurdling.

Following his treble at Navan on Wednesday Christy Roche rode his 50th winner of the season when Argyle Street responded well to win the first leg of the Elverstown Maiden.

The veteran six times former champion was hard at work on the Aidan O'Brien trained Listowel runner up but, once in top gear inside the distance Argyle Street picked up the disputing Night Raider and Bold Tycoon and forged clear. Roche is now 15 winners adrift of the current title holder Murtagh who, with a tally of 65, leads Kevin Manning by one who, in turn, is one ahead of 10 times champion Michael Kinane.

O'Brien completed his double when Clonagam won the Knockadoo Hurdle. Trounced by stable companion Liss De Paor at Listowel last week the Charlie Swan partnered Clonagam raced clear of Majestic Paddy before rising to the last flight and won seven lengths. The winner, who is better going right handed, will next campaign in novice hurdles in England - where he is likely to get the strong pace he needs - though he will be based here.

The Craddockstown Handicap produced a pulsating finish with Do Tell Me, fourth only 100 yards from the past after being switched for her run, exploding through on the rails to short head Notluckytochange with Bailiwick Frontier another short head away third. The winner, a first success for Clonmel permit holder Mrs Shelagh Bourke, was powerfully ridden by Declan McDonogh.

Course winner King Of The Glen made virtually all the running to win the Ingoldsby Handicap Chase from Perknapp who ruined his chance with a bad blunder at the fourth last. The Ted Walsh trained Alligator Joe, a fast mount over fences for his amateur rider son Ruby, broke a hind leg when falling at the second last.