Newcomer Sambusca takes the opener at Naas

The opening race on a bumper eight race card at Naas this afternoon, the Tifrums EBF Maiden over six furlongs, went to the John Oxx trained newcomer Sambusca under Johnny Murtagh.

The winner was well backed on course going from his opening show of 3/1 into 7/4 clear favourite. Hongkong Dancer the second best in the market at 5/2, and the winner battled out the finish from over a furlong out with Sambusca staying on best inside the final furlong going on to score by two lengths.

The pair went four and three parts of a lengths clear of the third placed horse Taman Namoose at 13/2 for Paul Deegan and Pat Smullen.

Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: "He won nicely. He found the ground a bit sticky.

"He is a nice horse who has been working well at home. He has a good temperament.

"The ground is going against him now but he just about got away with it in maiden company.

"If he does run again this season it will be in the Killavullan Stakes (Leopardstown, October 30th)."

His owner Louis Walsh from Co Waterford said afterwards: “I was going to sell him at the yearling sales but he had an incident and so it’s a good thing I sent him into training."