Durand provides Foley with another double

Shane Foley has been in top form for nearly two weeks now and the Co Kilkenny man recorded his second double in the space of three days, as he guided Durand to a comfortable victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, for trainer John Murphy.

Foley has partnered ten winners since May 30th and having won aboard Flaring Forth in the previous contest he doubled up on the 5/2 favourite.

The son of Motivator finished a fine second on his debut at Limerick last month behind Hold The Line and he went one place better this evening, hitting the front at the two furlong pole, before stretching clear inside the final furlong to score easily by three and a half lengths. Minister Of Mayhem finished back in second under Emmett McNamara for Ger Lyons at 7/2 (5/1 this morning) while Cardinal Palace also trained by John Murphy, kept on well to take third, a further four and three parts of a length away under Derek McCormack at 33/1.

Foley said afterwards: "He enjoyed the fast ground and the step up in trip and he will get further."

Additonal reporting by Alan Magee