JOE Murphy’s admirable campaigner Swamp Fox bagged the major prize that his efforts throughout the year so richly merited as he captured the €100,000 Naas November Handicap.

A runner-up in both the amateur riders’ handicap at Galway before being touched off in the Galway Hurdle three days later, Swamp Fox was more than entitled to secure another lucrative prize and he isn’t finished for the year yet. Indeed a tilt at either the best two-mile hurdles in Ireland or Britain is next for this teak tough five-year-old who is consistency personified.

Gary Carroll, who won the Lincoln on the opening day of the season, was on board the Tom Egan-owned gelding and the pair held a decent position throughout.

In a race where not that many got involved Swamp Fox headed the always prominent Highland Fling nearing the final furlong. That one was coming back again late on though and Western Boy finished off strongly from the rear but Swamp Fox held on gamely. He defeated Highland Fling by a short-head, with Western Boy a further neck away in third.

“Gary just felt he stopped when he hit the front and he said he actually finished with plenty of horse under him,” said Murphy.

“He’s a tough, consistent horse and there’s more in him I’d say. The plan now would be either the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown or the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.”

The magnitude of Colin Keane’s achievement in becoming champion jockey and the level of interest generated by his battle with Pat Smullen were memorably illustrated throughout the day.

CORONATION

Family, friends and well wishers, many of whom were sporting hats and scarves bearing the rider’s name, were all in attendance for Keane’s coronation.

The reception he received after claiming the Kildare Post Handicap on Inscribe was quite something to behold as the rider and the Ger Lyons inmate received a rousing welcome after edging out Lucky Mistake.

In what was the most memorable reception accorded to any winner during the 2017 flat season, Keane and his mount were hailed by a legion of supporters as they came back to the enclosure.

These rapturous scenes were then repeated when the former champion apprentice was presented with the champion rider trophy.

Furthermore, Ger Lyons, who was bringing down the curtain on his best season to date, had no hesitation naming Keane’s championship heroics as the best moment of his career.

“It’s a huge achievement and to have become champion without the support of one of the main teams is massive,” reflected Lyons, whose season began with a double at this track all the way back in March. “I just love the way Colin has carried himself over the last couple of months and I’m just delighted for him.”

For his part the useful Inscribe, another canny purchase from Britain by owner David Spratt, coped well with a 9lb hike in the ratings for last month’s Gowran triumph. Lyons indicated that the three-year-old would return to Naas to contest the Irish Lincoln next March on the opening fixture of the 2018 season.

The old adage of icing on the cake was never more appropriate than after the mile and a half maiden where Keane hit 100 winners for the season after striking on Warnaq.

The well-backed 7/4 favourite had reached the frame on her first two runs and took advantage of good opportunity. She swept to the front with over a furlong to run for a three-length victory over Great Trango to the delight of the rider’s legion of fans.

“She’s won well and is improving all the time. Colin said that she felt like she was only still learning,” commented Matthew Smith, who trains the daughter of Arcano for his father, Kevin. “Wayne (Lordan) rode her the last day and said that she would appreciate this trip which she did. She won’t go to Dundalk during the winter.”

Thoughts were already turning to 2018 after Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen landed the Listed Finale Stakes with the promising Tocco D’Amore. The Moyglare Stud-owned daughter of Raven’s Pass was running for the first time since her striking debut success at this track in April.

The three-year-old had to contend with some race fit and battled hardened rivals in this mile and a half event but she produced a display which bodes well for next year.

The 7/4 favourite got the better of the much improved Lagostovegas inside the final furlong and went to the line strongly to pull three lengths clear.

“That was a very pleasing performance and we’ll look forward to her running in group races next year. She’ll always appreciate a little ease in the ground,” stated Weld.

“She’s a smart filly. She was off for the summer with a setback and we’ve had to be patient with her but it’s paid off.”

The John McConnell-trained Vinnie’s Wish relished the drop back to six furlongs to strike at 16/1 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

This Derek Kierans-owned son of Most Improved showed ability to reach the frame on his first two starts but the shorter distance enabled him to take a marked step forward. Donagh O’Connor got his mount into contention on the outer with well over a furlong to run and the willing Vinnie’s Wish stayed on determinedly to see off the newcomer Katie Cruel by a head.

“I finally got his trip right. He travelled very well over a mile the last day at Navan and he has a lot of speed so I thought that we’d him bring him back in trip,” declared McConnell.

“Hopefully he’ll improve from two to three and I’m delighted for his owner who has been a very loyal supporter of the yard.”

An industrious season for Aspen Belle yielded a third victory of the year for the Pat Martin-trained and Tom Brennan-owned mare in the five-furlong handicap.

As the last furlong loomed it looked as though Doonard Prince was poised to push Killian Leonard level with the eventual champion Oisin Orr in the battle for the apprentice jockey’s title.

However, he could find no more late on and Aspen Belle was produced from off the pace by Leigh Roche to land in front in the last couple of strides. The 12/1 chance has risen some 22lbs in the weights since the start of the season.

Leonard picked up a two-day whip suspension for his efforts.

“The trip was a bit on the sharp side for her but she likes a good cut in the ground and we said we’d drop in and take a chance and it’s worked out well, they probably went very hard up front,” commented Martin. “I’d say she might stay in training next year. She’s very hard on herself but she’s not a bad tool when things go right for her.”

Still Standing (7/4) progressed from an encouraging third to Flavius at Leopardstown eight days previously to record a clear-cut victory in the mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Colm O’Donoghue made much of the running on the Juliet Cooper-owned son of Mastercraftsman who stuck to his task very well when his well-backed stablemate House Call (10/1-4/1) loomed up with a quarter of a mile to run. Still Standing pulled away again inside the distance to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

“He promised to do that off his Leopardstown run and he’s a nice horse for next year. The runner-up ran well too,” reflected Jessica Harrington. “They both went on the ground but they would prefer it better.”

Joseph O’Brien, who was on the mark at Cork earlier in the day, sent out Band Of Outlaws (7/2) to claim the seven-furlong nursery.

As he looked to bring the curtain down on a momentous season, Derby hero Padraig Beggy had his mount well positioned throughout. Band Of Outlaws then made his way to the front with well over a furlong to run and he kept on nicely to defeat Flamin Audi by four lengths.

“Aidan and Joseph have been very good to me and Joseph told me just to get this horse to relax,” reflected Beggy, who was wearing the colours of Justin Carty. “I thought I’d win turning in but it’s tough going out there today, it’s testing.”

ACTING STEWARDS

N. O’Byrne, P. Caffrey, P.G. Molony, J. Martin Smith, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

WESTERN BOY (P.A. Fahy): This eight-year-old made a resounding return to form with a strong-finishing third in the November Handicap. He will be of major interest if his attentions are switched to hurdles in the coming months.