Hannon in good Kompany with 1st Irish win

Kool Kompany lowered some notable (and new) colours when taking the Listed Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas today, in the process providing his trainer Richard Hannon junior with a first Irish winner.

Ridden by Pat Dobbs, the son of versatile sire Jeremy was unbeaten in two previous starts but faced stiff opposition in the six furlongs contest, including from Ballydoyle's War Envoy (8/15f) and the Godolphin owned Toscanini

In the end, Kool Kompant outbattled Toscanini (running in the newly minted Irish Godolphin silks - of royal blue, with dark blue seams) for a head win, with War Envoy unable to quicken three parts of a length back in third.

English based Hannon wasn't present for the win, his first Irish winner from just his second runner.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson