WILLOW took advantage of a step down from the exalted surrounds of classic company as she got back on track for the season in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Naas Oaks Trial Stakes.

At Epsom earlier this month Willow struggled in the Oaks when finishing at the rear of the field but this drop in class and a switch to better ground enabled this daughter of American Pharoah and Pepping Fawn to take a significant step in the right direction.

In a race that set up well for Willow, Seamie Heffernan had her ideally placed in second as April Showers cut out the running. Willow (11/2) then made her bid entering the last quarter of a mile and soon moved to the head of the field before keeping on nicely to hold off La Petite Coco by half a length.

“She won nicely. We thought she was a real good filly at the start of the year and hopefully she can progress,” said Heffernan who teamed up with this filly after his first two intended mounts in the race were non-runners.

“She came good late last year so possibly she is going to arrive and be good late on this year.”

April Showers posted a fine effort in third in a race whose off time was delayed by some 25 minutes after Gary Carroll, who took a fall from Holly Golightly on the way to the start and was briefly knocked unconscious.

Happily he was alert, conscious and moving before he left the track for assessment at Naas hospital.

Flier first

The evening concluded with a determined pillar-to-post success for Jessica Harrington’s 78-rated Hamwood Flier in the seven-furlong maiden.

The Ann Marshall-owned daughter of Kodiac, who had finished no worse than fourth on her first three outings, raced a couple of lengths in advance of the field from early on sustained that effort to hold off Baldomero by a length and a quarter.

A high draw was a distinct advantage in the first division of the 45-65 rated sprint handicap where the 66/1 longshot Darkdeserthighway (drawn 19) outpointed Majeski Man (drawn 18).

Travelled sweetly

The Michael O’Callaghan inmate hadn’t shown much on his first four runs this season but it was all change here as he travelled sweetly throughout for Leigh Roche and took charge inside the last furlong to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

O’Callaghan trains the winner for his wife Siobhan.

Sacred Bridge steps up to the mark

THE market spoke loudly in favour of the Ger Lyons newcomer Sacred Bridge in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and this Juddmonte-owned daughter of Bated Breath duly delivered to look another promising juvenile for the trainer.

A sister to Viadera, who won at listed level for Lyons before going on to strike at Grade 1 level in America, Sacred Bridge was returned a well backed 11/10 favourite under Colin Keane and she produced a performance that was both classy and professional.

Sacred Bridge didn’t require much encouragement to quicken past the front-running Agartha inside the last furlong and she was a smooth length and a half winner at the line.

“It was a lovely performance. She was entitled to be green, which she was when she hit the front and she just got a little bit tired.

“Colin said she’ll get faster and she’ll come on a ton for this,” remarked the trainer’s brother Shane.

Murtagh double

Johnny Murtagh ended the evening with two winners and the first of these came courtesy of Misterio (13/2) in the second division of the sprint handicap where jockey Wesley Joyce rode out his 10lb claim. The Murtagh-owned Misterio, who had filled the runner-up spot on four occasions in the past, made no mistake this time. She had this race under control from some way out and reached the line two lengths clear of Intervention.

The Murtagh colours were also carried to victory by Kosman (7/2) and Nikita Kane in the apprentice riders’ handicap over a mile.

Just over a year to the day after his last win, which also came at Naas, Kosman dominated from the front and finished with four lengths to spare over Oneiroi.

Wood Ranger and Mother Country in McCreery double

AHEAD of a big weekend for the trainer, Willie McCreery fired in a double which began when a back-to-form Wood Ranger (15/2) took the three-year-old JF Dunne insurances Business Club Handicap over just short of six furlongs.

The Noelle Walsh-owned and bred son of Kodi Bear blazed a trail for Billy Lee and, in a first time visor, he held on well to defeat No More Porter by a neck.

“It’s the first time Noelle and Jim have seen him run and I’m delighted for them. He loves this place and every time he runs here he really tries,” reflected the trainer.

McCreery and Lee then added to their haul with the Godolphin-owned Mother Country in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Fillies Maiden over a mile.

The Dawn Approach filly had shaped with promise on her first two outings and looked to appreciate coming back in trip here.

Even though it appeared to be a steadily-run affair, the field thinned out markedly to leave Mother Country (3/1) and I Siyou Baby doing battle over the last furlong with McCreery’s charge getting on top as the line loomed.