Lyons/Keane double up with Sacrificial

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane completed a quick double at Killarney as Sacrificial defied top-weight in the Bet Online At thetote.com Handicap.

The Qatar Racing-owned son of Showcasing was gelded over the winter, and has shown the benefit of that procedure by scoring now on both outings this term.

Keane produced the 9/4 favourite to lead over a furlong out, and held off a strong challenge inside the final furlong from Liffey View by a neck with Never Again finishing best of all just another half-length back in third.

Keane and Lyons were also successful half-an-hour earlier with Bertie Le Belge and Keane went on to complete a treble aboard Jackie Ellis in the following 47-65 handicap.

Lyons said, "You can see by the size of him that weight was not going to stop him. He's still not the finished article but has turned a big corner since being gelded.

"He's improved and you would have to be happy with the way he's going this year since the operation. Hopefully he can go a tad higher, and after that you'd like to win a Premier Handicap. We'll take it stage by stage."