Martin Brassil enjoyed a red letter day at rain-lashed Leopardstown yesterday when saddling a big-race double with Norwegian Blue and Inchacooley. Norwegian Blue was produced with a well-timed challenge by Joanna Morgan to take the £20,000 Joe McGrath Handicap after the Ginger McCain-trained Zuhair forced the pace until headed 100 yards from home.

Brassil, who has 10 horses in training at his base near Kildare Town which he rents from leading rider Kevin Manning, followed up an hour later with Inchacooley in the listed Brownstown Stud Stakes. The five-year-old mare quickened up nicely to head the odds-on favourite Khatara just inside the furlong pole. She stayed on well under Eddie Ahern, partnering his first listed winner, to win by two and a half lengths.

Brassil's double was eclipsed by Aidan O'Brien, who recorded a treble. The Ballydoyle juvenile team have held a near monopoly this season, and the trend continued when both juvenile races went their way with Hopping Higgins and Photogenic.

Hopping Higgins made all under Michael Kinane in the listed Cork Stakes, and the odds-on favourite drew clear a furlong out for a decisive three and a half length win over Law Library.

"She is entered in both the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes here on Sunday and the Lowther Stakes at York. We will probably decide on our Heinz runners after the horses work tomorrow," O'Brien revealed afterwards. He reported King Of Kings in good form but a doubtful runner on Sunday if the ground is testing.

O'Brien recorded a one-two in the following Granville EBF Maiden, with the Willie Supple-partnered Photogenic beating the luckless Marigot Bay. Family Tradition brought up the treble in the listed Challenge Stakes but only after a vintage drive from Kinane to lead in the shadow of the winning post. Norman Cassidy, who does extremely well with his small string, saddled Charming Duke to win the bumper in easy fashion.