COLIN Keane continued his pursuit of the jockeys’ championship by riding a treble at Navan on Wednesday. Chester Nimitz initiated the three-timer when making virtually all to win the Buy Now & Save With The Real Deal Bundle Maiden.
Strongly pressed by market leader Ballintogher inside the final 100 yards, the 12/1 chance kept on to prevail by a head for Noel Meade Racing Ltd.
Meade said: “I have to thank Ben Coen to be honest. After he rode him in the north, he came in and said he was very quick out of the gates and had loads of boot, so he said maybe it would be better to bring him back to six furlongs and let him roll.”
Perfect timing
Step Back In Time provided the middle leg for Keane in the Book Your Discounted Tickets On NavanRacecourse.ie Handicap. The 8/1 chance came through to lead at the furlong pole, before keeping on well in the colours of owner/breeder Siobhan Tolerton to score by half a length.
Trainer Chris Timmons said: “She really enjoys it here. I was hopeful, I wasn’t confident to be honest. She was on the go a while and it is getting late in the year for a filly.
“She was flying going to Cork and I think she just came into season going down there. I wasn’t too worried about that run, I think there was an excuse. We might try her once (in Dundalk). She is actually rated lower on the all-weather.”
Closing act
Keane completed his treble when partnering the Paul Flynn-trained Forlio to win Division l of the Racing Again 22nd October Handicap. Sent off 9/2, the Bhoys On Tour Syndicate-owned gelding led over a furlong out, quickening clear to win by five lengths.
Flynn said: “I think he is a well-handicapped horse on his previous form. The boys have been patient. He was off a low mark today and I don’t think it was the greatest of contests. He’s in again on Monday (Roscommon). Unless anything is wrong, he will run again.”
TRAINER Michael Mulvany sent out the first leg of a double when The Love Machine powered clear inside the final furlong to win the Navan Racing Festival Hospitality On Sale Now Nursery Handicap.
Ridden by Terry Casey, the 10/1 chance was held up early on, before coming through to lead over 150 yards out. Carrying the trainer’s own colours, the colt kept on to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
Mulvany said: “We were a little bit disappointed the last day, he came there swinging and he just didn’t go through with his run. We rode him completely and utterly differently today. Terry loses his 10lb claim now, he goes down to 7lb. He is a very good young fella and is after working hard.”
Well-bred
Boyne Valley brought up the second leg when staying on late under Wesley Joyce to win Division ll of the Racing Again 22nd October Handicap. Dropped out towards rear, the 18/1 chance came through to lead 150 yards out, keeping on well to carry the trainer’s colours to a length and a half success.
Mulvany said: “She’s a well-bred filly. She doesn’t want heavy ground and it was too heavy the last twice. I haven’t her entered up anywhere, but hopefully we will find something. We would be hoping there would be something else for her, if the handicapper doesn’t go mad.”
ADO McGuinness sent out 14/1 chance Gloriously Glam to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. The Adam Caffrey-ridden filly was always prominent before heading Fast Tara close home to win by half a length.
McGuinness said: “The boys (Dooley Thoroughbreds, J Fairhurst and Deepak Dhand) bought her online. She loves a bit of room and a bit of space. Last week in Bellewstown, she was a little bit unlucky, she just bumped into one of Joseph’s.
“She’s very game and she stayed at it well for Adam. She wasn’t an overly dear filly, she has been a great bit of fun. She is after winning twice for us and been second. It was a good race and nice to get that for her.”
To the fore
Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley took the opening Navan Racing Festival 15th & 16th November Median Auction Maiden with Kindergarten.
Sent off a well-backed 7/1 chance, the daughter of Lucky Vega was always to the fore, heading Anushka 100 yards from home, before staying on to score by three quarters of a length. Harrington said: “She’s a lovely filly and we’ve always liked her. She has plenty of natural speed and she’s just a nice horse.
“Lovely actioned and she probably needs the ground a little bit better than that. We could easily be putting her away, but I want to talk to Mr Zhang (owner) and we’ll see.”
Sweet success
Gordon Elliott and Chris Hayes won the Navan Racecourse Welcomes Our Local Community Maiden with 33/1 outsider Sugar Goodson.
Prominent throughout, the newcomer led a furlong out, staying on well to prevail by half a length.
Elliott said of the Sapphire Racing-owned gelding: “I’m not surprised, to be honest. He did a few bits of work early on in the year and we were really, really happy with him.
“He just started growing a bit and we just backed off him. We think he is good and he is for sale obviously. Chris said he thinks he is very smart. He’s big enough to jump.”