Screen Siren plays starring role for Lynam

Screen Siren recorded a fourth career win and second at Navan this year when taking the Blackcastle Handicap in clearcut fashion.

The 11 runners split into two groups in this five-furlong event and Chris Hayes elected to track the pace on the far side.

The Sarah Lynam-trained mare was ridden to lead early inside the final furlong and the 9/2 shot soon settled the issue scoring by four and a quarter lengths.

The 5/2 favourite Rathbranchurch took the runner-up berth, with Mehman a further half-a-length away in third.

Lynam said, "She was probably a little bit unlucky the last day and didn't get the gap when she needed it.

"She did it very well - I didn't expect her to win by that far. She's a good filly to have, she's a fun filly.

"She had a bad experience in the north in the summer - I thought the track wasn't riding great and was a little bit jarred when she came back from that. You just kind of have to keep her sweet. It is a pity that it is right at the end of the season when she has decided that she loves it again, but she was good.

"It is just a pity that the only other race for her is the last day of the Flat up the Curragh. The last hurrah on grass we are restricted to what jockeys we can use. There are five furlong races for claimers and jockeys who haven't ridden 10 winners.

"I think that is extremely unfair, they have the whole of Dundalk. There are races there (Dundalk) for jockeys who have a limited amount of winners. I'm aware that I have a limited amount of winners as a trainer, but I have only a small string and it is such a help to have the likes of Chris Hayes or Colin Keane on her. It makes all the difference to me and the owner.

"The three horses I ran today are the three horses I have to run and they all picked up prize money, so I can't complain."

Quotes by Michael Graham