No Secrets turns back the clock for Martin

Bryan Cooper completed a quick double at Navan as No Secrets scored on his Irish debut in the featured Newgrange Veterans Handicap Chase.

Formerly trained by David Pipe for Malcolm Denmark, the 11-year-old gelding was having his first run here for the Tony Martin yard and made most of the running in this three miler. Glenquest led briefly after the second last but stopped quickly as No Secrets (4/1), who holds a number of entries at the Cheltenham Festival including the Kim Muir, led again over the last. Letter Of Credit did his chance no favours with a mistake at this point, and No Secrets kept on to beat that rival by three quarters of a length. Ad Idem was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third with Glenquest fourth.

Cooper was completing a double having also scored half-an-hour earlier aboard Azorian in the beginners chase.

Martin said, "I have a few nice horses for Malcolm Denmark. He has a lot of interest in Ireland and has bought a few nice horses.

"I've known Malcolm for a long time, since the days of Monsignor. He offered me a job at that time and we've been good friends since. We're looking for another Monsignor!

"I'm very pleased. He's done it well and hopefully can carry on from here. We've had him since Christmas and he's been around a few places to try and get a feel of him.

"He was fit enough and we were giving him a sporting chance although we were very wary of Glenquest."

(GC & AM)