O'Meara & Doyle double-up as Lad makes all A good afternoon got even better for David O'Meara and James Doyle, as they combined to take the Group 2 Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes with Larchmont Lad. O'Meara was earlier successful with Intisaab in the Tote Scurry Handicap, while Doyle partnered Marie's Diamond to victory in the Anglesey Stakes. Without a win since September of 2016, Larchmont Lad did get his head in front in the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown last October, but was later demoted to second. The son of Footstepsinthesand (second winner of the afternoon) went down by just a head on his penultimate start at Haydock, running yet another good race to take third on his most recent outing at Newbury. Sent off at 4/1 today, the Cheveley Park Stud owned four-year-old was sent straight to the front by Doyle, and made all. He was ridden under two furlongs out, and kept on well inside the final furlong to beat stable mate So Beloved (5/2) by half a length. Outsider Fas (40/1) ran a huge race to take third, another length and three parts back, while the 11/8 favourite St Patrick's Day was a disappointing fifth. "We were hopeful that both horses had a great chance coming over," said O'Meara. "I feel a small bit sorry for the owner of the second, Steve Barker, who is here but someone had to win it and I'm glad Larchmont Lad did it for Cheveley Park as well. "He was unlucky when he came over here last year and won and subsequently lost it in the stewards room. "For Mr and Mrs Thompson to allow me to take him back here and win a race is good. "He's a very straight-forward horse and he's quite tough. I gave James a free hand to do what he wanted and he gave him a fantastic ride. "I'll speak to Chris Richardson, who manages all the horses for Cheveley Park and see what he wants to do now. "So Beloved is an eight-year-old and it's a credit to him to still be running so well at this age. He'll probably go to the Lennox next and have a crack at that. "He ran a really good race there last year when fifth and not beaten far." Doyle added: "It's been a good day for David, he's an exceptional trainer, and I've been lucky enough to ride him a few nice winners over the years. "Fair play to the whole team for getting this lad on song today. He's threatened to do something like that, and today it has worked out beautifully. "That was the plan really (to make all), I couldn't see much pace on paper. He popped the lids very well and pricked his ears in front which is a big help." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
