WAYNE Lordan rode a double at Navan on Wednesday afternoon. Glory To Be initiated the brace when getting up close home to win the Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now Maiden.
Trained by Michael Grassick, the daughter of Cotai Glory was sent off 9/4 to make the breakthrough. Prominent throughout, the Back Nine Bandits Partnership-owned filly got up in the dying strides to win by a short head.
Lordan said: “That’s it (great to get the bracket for her), I’m delighted she won because she has been running very consistent all year. She ran well here the last day and I think this race fell right for her. She was going to get her day, so thankfully it was today because she deserved it.”
Completed
Lordan completed his brace when leading close home on the Thomond O’Mara-trained Charlie Brow’n to win the concluding Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap.
Carrying the colours of Roisin Hickey, the 9/1 chance was recording a first career victory. Ridden to go third 150 yards out, Charlie Brow’n kept on strongly inside the last 50 yards to beat Just Another Eagle a head.
Lordan said: “He handles that ground well. To be fair, he ran quite well when he stepped up to the mile and a half in Killarney. He ran okay in Thurles, probably track a little bit tight for him. He’s quite a big horse. He might be a bit of fun for them over the winter, possibly.”
THE Ross O’Sullivan-trained Bad Boy Rizz opened his account at the fifth time of asking when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Sent off 3/1, the Eleanora Kennedy-owned colt put his previous experience to good use, making all under Colin Keane.
Quickening up over a furlong out, Bad Boy Rizz went right away inside the final furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths.
O’Sullivan said: “He was kind of showing that he had a good attitude and that he was a nice horse. I was very impressed with the way he quickened today and Colin said the same.
“It is lovely to have him because he has a bit of size and scope to him, so could make actually a lovely horse for next year. It is (good to get the win as a juvenile) and put him away now.”
One place better
Eddie and Patrick Harty continued their fine end to the season when sending out the once-raced Michael’s Well to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Runner-up on his debut at Naas, the John Linehan-owned gelding was sent off 11/4 to go one place better under Chris Hayes. Prominent throughout, the son of Havana Grey came through to challenge at the furlong pole, heading Baiana 150 yards out, before staying on well to win by half a length.
Eddie Harty said: “Greenness probably cost him first-time out. He was only beaten three-parts of a length and he has built on that run now. It was a decent enough race (today) and he gave weight to everything. He’ll get a bit further than that, get seven (furlongs) anyway. It was promising.”
Dangerous
Local trainer Michael Mulvany sent out Velvet Skies to defy top weight in the Christmas Parties At Navan Racecourse 6th & 14th December Handicap.
Third at Dundalk last time, the 7/2 favourite tracked the pace under Ben Coen before going second two furlongs out. Ridden to challenge Happy Henry from over a furlong out, the Frank McNulty-owned gelding led close home to score by half a length.
Mulvany said: “The last day he showed up well. We said that to Ben that when he got down into the 60 grade that he was going to be dangerous. We’ll see what we are going to do, he won in Dundalk.
“I’m delighted for Frank, he’s a good patron. He’s very competitive off his mark at the moment. He has won when he is higher, but he is probably not as good as he was then.”
TWICE successful on the all weather, the Ado McGuinness-trained Dark Ace opened his account on turf when staying on best under Adam Caffrey to win the Final Fence Marquee Hospitality Package 15th & 16th November On Sale Now Handicap.
Held up in the early stages, the Jim Fairhurst, Damian McCann and Cyril McMullan-owned gelding was ridden to go sixth over a furlong from the finish. Staying on strongly inside the last 150 yards, the 18/1 outsider led close home to beat Mickey The Steel by half a length.
McGuinness said: “The boys bought into him when one of the partners sold out - Damian (McCann) still stayed in him. We didn’t expect him to run as well, I thought he might have needed it. I said he would be a nice horse for Dundalk. He’ll go to Dundalk Friday week over six furlongs.”
Versatile
Former point-to-point and bumper winner Dippedinmoonlight recorded her first success on the flat when staying on strongly under Gary Carroll to land the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden.
Sent off 12/1, the Emmet Mullins-trained mare was stepping up on her recent flat debut. Pushed along over five furlongs out, the Paul Byrne-owned five-year-old looked to be going nowhere until stamina came into play.
Making headway from over half a mile out, Dippedinmoonlight headed Lord Byron at the three pole, keeping on strongly to win by three and a quarter lengths.
Carroll said: “I was at the pin of my collar every step of the way, but the further I was going the better I was getting. She finished off the race very well.
“She’s National Hunt-bred and she wants a bit of slower ground. She could end up in some of those better handicaps next year.”