AVENUE Gabriel returned from a near four-month break to claim the Listed Clodovil EBF Garnet Stakes at Naas.

Off the track since the Pretty Polly Stakes, the Irish 1000 Guineas fourth had been restricted to just three runs this term but was back to her best under Chris Hayes.

The Lady O’Reilly-owned daughter of Champs Elysees was given a patient ride before making smooth progress with a quarter of a mile to run. Avenue Gabriel (5/1) had to fight hard to see off Fastnet Mist but she ran on gamely to carry the day by three-quarters of a length. Kanes Pass claimed a precious blacktype placing by finishing the same distance back in third.

“I’m delighted for Lady O’Reilly and her patience has been rewarded,” said Deegan. “The filly’s best form has been on fast ground but she was not herself after running in the Pretty Polly. She’s a good mare for next year for something like the Matron.”

The three-race maiden Captain My Captain (13/2) was much the best in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Birdcatcher Nursery where he gave John Murphy his first juvenile success of the season.

Owned by the Universal Bloodstock Syndicate, the Captain Rio colt had already performed to a good standard in his initial outings and once Shane Foley sent him for home with over a furlong to run this race was as good as over. Captain My Captain eased away from the front-running Cleveland Street before a resounding three and a half lengths triumph.

“He’s a lovely big horse who was just drawn too wide in a sales race at the Curragh last time and the concern today was that the ground might be too dead for him, he wants it good,” commented Murphy. “He should excel over seven furlongs or a mile next year.”

A masterful Billy Lee brought Rocky Bleier from almost last to first to claim the mile and a half Woodlands 100 Club October Handicap for Bill Farrell and American-based owner Timothy Rooney. Earlier this month, he came from well back to claim a 10-furlong handicap at Navan and, here he repeated those tactics in an altogether better class race.

The 20/1 shot had the entire field to pass early in the straight but was unleashed with a sweeping charge on the outside by Lee which saw him strike the front 100 yards from home. At the line, the Rock Of Gibraltar gelding had a length and a half to spare over the dead-heaters Bazaar and Princess Pearlita.

Rocky Bleier topped the sale at Goffs on Thursday, knocked down to Gerry Hogan on behalf of Barry Connell for €150,000. See page A32-33.

STRIKING PERFORMANCE

Easily the most striking performance of the day came in the opening Tifrums EBF (C&G) Maiden where the imposing newcomer Endless Drama, who was backed from as big as 11/1 into 6/1, produced a display of some promise. The Ger Lyons-trained colt, who is owned by Annette O’Callaghan, travelled powerfully for Colin Keane and improved into the lead a quarter of a mile from home. When he was asked to quicken up Endless Drama powered clear to see off the Ballydoyle newcomer Cenotaph by five and a half lengths.

“He’s as big a horse as we’ve had come into the yard and we took our time with him. He’s a very, very smart horse,” commented Lyons. “He has an entry in the Killavullan but that will be it for the season. Next year he’ll start over seven furlongs and he’ll step up quietly.”

ENCOURAGING DEBUT

Byzantium (9/10) followed up her highly encouraging debut third in a Curragh listed race with a narrow success in the six-furlong Bungle Inthejungle EBF Fillies Maiden. The Kilboy Estate-owned daughter of Dutch Art began a forward move on the outside for Pat Smullen heading into the last two furlongs but it was only in the last stride that she headed Sharaasa.

“On first viewing I thought that we were beat but she got home,” declared Lynam. “Maybe I overrated her but I thought that she was very good. She needs to improve to be very good. Pat felt she was still quite green.”

Jockey Niall Madden enjoyed a welcome change of luck as he guided the well backed 6/4 favourite Harvey Logan to victory in the Profile Systems Kommerling Handicap Hurdle. Madden, who was sidelined for five months when breaking his leg in April, was notching up his first success since December.

On his first venture into handicaps, Harvey Logan picked off Pencilhimin after the last before a half length triumph over Elishpour. This J.P. McManus-owned winner had something to spare at the finish and could easily follow up in the coming weeks.

“He’s been a bit disappointing up to now but he jumped well and will go for more of the same. He enjoyed the ground,” reflected Noel Meade.

John Nicholson was predicting a bright future for Mill Forge (5/1) after the seven-year-old accounted for some better fancied rivals in the Andrew and Bridget Kenny Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

Fresh from a decent third to Sheamus at Fairyhouse the previous week, the Danny Benson-ridden Mill Forge was having just the fourth outing of his career. Market leaders Champoleon and Investmentsuccess were both poised to challenge nearing two out but Benson’s mount maintained a decent tempo to defeat the first-named by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s as good a horse as I’ve had,” reflected Nicholson who trains the winner for Mark McCausland. “Chasing will be his game and he might just have one more over hurdles before he goes chasing.”

Lyrical Theatre (6/5) made it two wins from three starts with a commanding display in the two-mile, three-furlong bumper. The Patrick Mullins-ridden daughter of King’s Theatre had to settle for third behind Sheamus at Galway last month, but turned in a much improved effort to hand out a nine and a half lengths beating to the Listowel winner.

Of the Hibo Syndicate-owned half-sister to Bright New Dawn, Willie Mullins commented: “She doesn’t show much at home but won first time out at Sligo by 20 lengths and Patrick changed tactics a bit today from when she ran at Galway. She might go to Navan next month for a listed mares’ bumper.’’

Suspensions

Apprentice Conor McGovern was suspended for two days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee after failing to weigh in on Won Diamond who finished fifth in the October Handicap.

Kate Harrington picked up a two-day whip ban for her efforts on Sandymount Duke who finished second in the bumper.