Champion jockey Oisin Murphy continued his pursuit of Billy Loughnane after bagging a double at Sandown Park.

In front of his watching mother Marie, Murphy picked up a quickfire double at the Esher track after steering Edwin Hubble and Desert Shadow to victories.

In the one mile two furlongs handicap, only three runners went to post. Brian Meeham sent Edwin Hubble down to Sandown with a strong chance of winning the three-runner affair and wasn’t disappointed when Murphy was always doing enough on the three-year-old to land the odds by a neck from Interstate.

The champion jockey was soon back in the winners’ enclosure organising the customary winners’ photograph after Desert Shadow took the seven furlongs handicap under top weight.

The gelding’s speed was enough in the latter part of the race to land the spoils by three-and-three-quarter lengths for Newmarket trainer Saaed bin Suroor.

Richard Hannon added to his impressive tally of winners by taking the five furlongs maiden with Elevating under Sean Levey.

Crazee In Havana under Murphy soon went to the front but found no extra in the final 75 yards with Elevating getting up on the line to win by three quarters of a length.

The line came just in time for Epictetus who managed to hang on by half a length from What’s The Plan in the amateur jockeys handicap, run over one mile two furlongs with Megan Jordan aboard for Jamie Osborne.

Two unraced horses were at the centre of attention in the class three maiden. First Law and Flight Tracker fought out the finish, with First Law getting the better to win by a head.

However, a stewards’ enquiry was called for possible interference by both horses. After a long wait the result stood.

By Peter Moore