Helvic blitzes his rivals as Meade & Keane double-up

Noel Meade recorded his second Group 3 success of the season, as Helvic Dream blitzed his rivals in the Novi IT Services International Stakes.

Meade, who has his horses in excellent form of late, was completing an across the card double having claimed the second at Limerick with Cask Mate

Winning rider Colin Keane was also completing a brace, having claiming the opener on Khartoum and he is now four ahead of Shane Foley (80 to 76) in the race to be crowned champion jockey.

Without a win in five starts this season, but placed four times, Helvic Dream was sent off a well-backed 6/1 chance (12s in early shows).

Settled towards rear, the son of Power made smooth progress on the outer from early in the straight and swept through to lead with over a furlong to race.

Soon ridden, he stretched clear in the closing stages, going on to score easily by seven and a half lengths. Up Helly Aa who was returned the 2/1 favourite, finished second under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery, while Raise You (16/1) was a further four and a half lengths back in third.

Meade said afterwards: "I thought he was good all year but things just haven't gone right for him with one thing and another.

"I don't know where he will go next, and there is the possibility we could travel with him. He'll stick to Stakes races now.

"We have schooled him over barrels but that will probably go out the window now.

"Colin was riding the O'Brien horses today but he told me the other day he was riding this horse which was nice to hear. We get on well together and it gave me a bit of satisfaction that he stuck with me.

"He loves soft ground. He wouldn't want fast ground but I think he'll go on good ground."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee