O'Brien pair dominate in Navan maiden
Goodwill and Seamie Heffernan beat Gran Paradiso
© Photo Healy Racing
Champion Flat Trainer Aidan O'Brien had a 1-2 in the Come Racing Again Sunday 8th November Maiden at Navan today with newcomer and apparent second string Goodwill (5/1), under Seamie Heffernan, holding off the late challenge of stablemate Gran Paradiso (3/1).
Heffernan's mount was held up, and having travelled well into the race, improving to lead a furlong out and in the end stayed on well to hold off Joseph O'Brien's mount Gran Paradiso. The runner-up, in contrast, was outpaced for most of the trip, but did stay on well in the closing stages.
Trainer O'Brien wasn't present but afterwards Heffernan stated "he's a Montjeu with loads of ability. I don't know how good a maiden it was but he felt like he wanted further. He pricked his ears at the line."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee