Lynam & Lordan combine with Dierama

Dierama stayed on best to win the opener at Navan this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Seventh on debut at Naas last month, the daughter of Dark Angel then finished a good fourth on her next start at the Co Kildare venue earlier this month.

Sent off at 6/1 this afternoon, she was settled in mid-division by Wayne Lordan. She had plenty of work to do from the two furlong pole, but soon began to close on the leaders when ridden.

The Sonia Rogers owned bay really got going inside the final furlong, and she came with her challenge between horses in the closing stages, getting up to score by half a length. Snowstar (8/1) improved from her first start to finish second under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery, while Shinko Princess (7's to 5's on-course) was a head back in third with Donagh O'Connor in the saddle for Christy Donoghue. Low Latency who was as short as 2/1 this morning, proved easy to back on-course, and went off the 4/1 favourite from an opening show of 11/4.

The Pat Smullen ridden colt hit the front from the two furlong pole, but didn't find much off the bridle, and finished a disappointing fifth.

Eddie Lynam trains the winner, and he said afterwards: "She's important to win with. She's owned by a very important owner but more importantly she's very well-bred.

"She's out of a half-sister to Anthem Alexander and Dandy Man and the dam has bred Hamza.

"She always had pace but it was just hard to teach her how to gallop. She was probably a little bit immature mentally.

"Wayne gave her a proper ride. That was the plan, although I felt like changing it at half-way, but it worked out great.

"We'll see what mark the handicapper gives her now."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards enquired into the circumstances surrounding the late arrival of C. O'Donoghue, the declared rider of Little White Owl necessitating a change of rider. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who explained the circumstances surrounding his late arrival. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that C. O'Donoghue was in breach of Rule 196(v). Having taken his previous record in this regard into account, the Stewards fined him €200.

R.P. Cleary, rider of Taras Way trained by P.J.F. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got no luck in running.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson