Newtown's Night steps up on previous efforts

Newtown’s Night at 5/1 shed her maiden in striking fashion in Naas for John Oxx and Declan McDonogh.

The three-year-old Galileo filly delivered a powerful run inside the two pole which brought her past Sweetest Taboo and quickly put her in the clear in this mile race. She hit the line three and a half lengths up on Sweet Cherry (33/1). Chicago Girl the 7/4 favourite for Johnny Murtagh and Seamie Heffernan, finished third. She was beaten five lengths by the winner. She had been uneasy in the market drifting from even money in the morning.

John Oxx said: “She won nicely and the drop in distance probably suited her. She pulled too hard over a mile and a quarter the last day and she’s probably going a bit better. She won snugly. We don’t work her too hard at home so we were in the dark with her.

“She likes an ease and wouldn’t have run without the rain. If we get similar ground we’ll see if we can win a handicap with her.”

She didn’t go unbacked as the filly was 8/1 before racing. Her two previous runs saw her finish sixth in Leopardstown over seven furlongs and fifth at Fairyhouse in a mile and a quarter maiden.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson