Keke provides Lynam with a first a Rockingham

Keke continued on his upward curve, as Billy Lee rode the winner of the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh for the second year running.

Lee was successful aboard Amazon Lady for Willie McCreery from stall one 12 months ago and repeated the dose aboard Edward Lynam’s 11-4 favourite who went one better than his second here over six furlongs last month, scoring by a length.

Lynam said: “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win. I’ve got a nickname as being a good sprint trainer (Fast Eddie) and I’ve never even got close to winning it.

“I trained him for this race and when I saw the draw on Friday, I thought we were in trouble.

“We’ve just brought him along steadily and it’s great to win this race.”

Earlier on the card Dermot Weld’s Juddmonte-owned son of Frankel Sujet (10-1) produced an impressive display to down Aidan O’Brien’s 6-4 favourite Mississippi River in the opening Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

Weld said: “Chris (Hayes) had him in a lovely position throughout. When you are drawn wide here it is important to go and get a position otherwise you will be forced very wide over the nine furlongs, but he got him out and got him over.

“He tracked Ryan (Moore) and the plan was to have a go at him in the final furlong and that is just what he did.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race and another featured handicap will be the plan for him.”

There was also a smart performance from Slieve Binnian (7-1) to claim the Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap for David Marnane in the hands of Luke McAteer.

Marnane said: “Mick (Halford, former trainer) recommended us and I’ve known Paul Rooney (owner) for a long time. He’s one of the real gentlemen in racing.

“He ran really well on Guineas weekend, and we put him away for this. He could be a Galway Mile horse and will need to go up a few pounds to get in, so we’ll see what the handicapper does with him.

“I’d like to have a go at Galway as he jumps smart and travels well.

“He hasn’t had many goes at a mile. He took a while to get going the last day but came home well and sharpened up a lot from it.”