Eddie Ahern appears to have an unassailable lead at the head of the apprentice jockeys' championship, and the Tipperary-born rider moved on to the 23 mark in what is already his best ever season when partnering a double via Genial Jenny and Blue Jazz at Ballinrobe yesterday evening.

Ahern (19) has shown an astute racing brain on a number of occasions this term, and his judgement of pace from the front was the key to success on Genial Jenny in the Maiden Hill Handicap. He quickened the tempo on the approach to the home turn, and the three length lead the mare poached at this point proved decisive.

Genial Jenny, who is in foal to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Spectrum, was driven out in the straight for a three and a half length success over the dead-heating pair of Sir True Blue and uneasy favourite Luna Spectrum.

Blue Jazz completed Ahern's double in the four-runner Croagh Patrick Race. The Bluebird filly, who is trained by the Michael Grassick, had to dig deep in the final 100 yards to beat Woodhaven by a neck.

Willie Supple recorded winner number 13 of the campaign when Always Crowded, helped by the addition of blinkers, led from a furlong out to land the opening Fort EBF Maiden. John Muldoon, who trains 10 horses for the successful Japanese owner Yoshiki Akazawa, said: "He was a bit unlucky in running at Roscommon last time and, if he comes out of this race okay, could run in a winners event at the Curragh on Saturday."

The Supple/Muldoon combination appeared to have a fair opportunity to complete a quick double in the following Wesport Maiden with West Side Story. The betting indicated that this would be a virtual match between their representative and the Dermot Weld-trained Rafahiyah, and that is exactly how the race turned out.

The pair drew clear in this four-runner contest, but Mick Kinane on the odds-on chance Rafahiyah found an extra gear from the furlong pole to prevail.