Lyons runners roar to Roscommon double

Ger Lyons saddled a Qatar Racing double at Roscommon on Tuesday evening courtesy of Ball Girl and Cannonball.

Two-year-old filly Ball Girl had finished a close second at Gowran on her debut in July and went one place better without much fuss, leading on the bridle two furlongs out before going clear approaching the final furlong. She probaly got tired in the closing stages on the soft ground - as they all did - so we will see how she comes out of the race before deciding whether she takes up her entry in a winners' race for fillies at the Curragh on Sunday.

Ball Girl - who is by Tagula out of the 2-year-old six-furlong winner Love Thirty - was purchased by David Redvers at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale and is a very nice prospect, including for next year given her physical scope.

Another horse with his best days ahead of him is Cannonball (pictured), who took his record to two wins from three starts when making all under a well-judged ride from Colin Keane in the closing conditions race over a mile and a quarter. He's a son of Lope de Vega who enjoys rain-softened ground, and we are very hopeful there will be a nice prize or two in him if he keeps progressing.

Bold Knight went close to giving Qatar Racing/Pearl Bloodstock a hat-trick on the night when second in a big-field handicap over a mile and a half, staying on well from the rear in first-time blinkers.

There was also a recent winner over jumps for Qatar Racing - a first runner under National Hunt Rules carrying the claret and gold braid - as Brutal made a winning hurdling debut at Cork on Monday. Brutal was a stablemate of both Ball Girl and Cannonball at Ger Lyons' until June, when he joined Gordon Elliott, who reported the 3-year-old had been schooling well at home prior to his first taste of his new job. Brutal put his practice to good use in the race, and the way he put things to bed after jumping the last was very encouraging.