"Sweetened up" Caol stuns at Naas

A tough session for punters at Naas reached a low in race four when 20/1 shot Caolaneoin sluiced home in the Hospitality At Naas Racecourse Beginners Chase under Robbie Colgan.

The King's Theatre would likely have been written off by many punters having not won a race since January 2012.

However Shane Nolan's charge today put in a performance hinted at in his early days, improving from mid-division moving best in the straight.

Colgan let the ten-year-old lead before the last and he strode away on the run-in for a ten length success over Vent De La Cote

"He's plenty of ability but has also had a lot of problems, and this was nearly his last run," revealed Nolan.

"We brought him to a cross-country course on Thursday jumping banks and ditches instead of galloping and it's sweetened him up.

"We should have done it a long time ago. Robbie gave him a great ride. He doesn't find a lot off the bridle, and he just left him alone."

Andrew Lynch has been stood down for the rest of the day and has gone for x-rays after a fall from Theophilus in the previous race. Jonathan Moore replaced him on Sea Buckthorn here.

Dr Adrian McGoldrick said: "Andrew took a fall on his left shoulder and it looks like he could have some ligament damage. He's gone off to hospital for x-rays."

(AM & EM)