Linehan conjures up a win from Golden Spell

Golden Spell came out on the right side of another close finish in Navan as she prevailed in the fillies' handicap over an extended five furlongs.

Denis Linehan 's 5lb claim came in very handy on board the three-year-old daughter of Al Kazeem who got the verdict by a short head.

She was always prominent before being pushed along to lead over two furlongs out. She was soon ridden to try and assert but top-weight Sorelle Delle Rose made rapid headway in pursuit at the business end.

In the final 100 yards Sorelle Delle Rose looked likely to claim victory as she challenged a neck down but Golden Spell kept finding for Linehan to take a narrow victory. Thiswaycadeaux the 9/2 favourite, was two and a half lengths back in third.

Trainer Johnny Murtagh said: “She’s come on a nice bit from Naas and Denis said she got a bit stuck in the ground there. She appreciated the bit better ground today and she had good form here being second in a Listed race last year.

“The main plan is trying to win a Listed race this year. When I looked at the last race it’s not going to be easy as the Listed races in Ireland are very competitive. There is a race in Naas for her in a couple of weeks and we’ll probably let her go there. We’d love to think that she could win a Listed race as she’d be a very valuable broodmare in time.

“I thought the second was coming to win but Denis said when it got to him she got going again. She did prick her ears a bit in front but she’s been like that from day one. She’s very straightforward, tough, hardy, small, genuine and please God one day she could breed a good one.”

Denis Linehan added: "She did (find a bit extra close home) but she's very genuine and that's what won it for her. She's got a great heart and she's only a small, little filly but she stuck at it when the other horse came to her.

"We were pleased with her first run (this season in Naas). It was nicer ground today and she's small so she struggled a bit the first day in that ground. It was a little bit nicer today and that suited her.

"She might look at a Listed race now I think."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee