Blinkers do the trick for Nullifier

Nullifier (5/1 jt fav) was close to the pace all the way in the Naas Handicap over 6f and went on from over a furlong out to win by three quarters of a length from Lustown Baba Arcanears kept on into third ahead of his stablemate Sendmylovetoyou the other 5/1 jt fav, in fourth. Blaairmayne, short of room at a crucial stage, finished just outside the frame.

The winner, available at 9/1 this morning, had won a maiden over 5f at Navan last year and, after some consistent efforts in defeat so far this term, first-time blinkers seemed to sharpen him up nicely. Gary Carroll was on board, riding his ninth winner of the season.

The winning trainer Ger Lyons’ brother and assistant Shane Lyons said: "The blinkers have done the job on him today as they just helped him to travel. He’s still a colt but doesn’t act like a colt.

“Gary said the last half-furlong he just got a bit lonely. He had to go when he did being where he was drawn and how he was travelling.

“He’ll improve from that and likes that ground just on the easy side of good. Hopefully with experience he’ll turn into a Premier handicapper.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee