Toscanini holds off Ainippe in Navan opener

The classy Toscanini held off the late of surge of Ainippe to land the opener at Navan this afternoon, the Brews Hill Race.

The Mick Halford (first winner on the turf this season) trained son of Shamardal only won a maiden at Dundalk last term but he ran some excellent races in defeat and was second in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh in September.

Sent off the 9/10 favourite here he tracked the leader on the outer before hitting the front a furlong from home.

He was pushed out on the run-in and held off the late challenge of Ainippe and Oisin Orr by a head.

The runner-up was the best backed horse in the race and having started at 6/1 last night she opened on-course at just 4's before going off the 3/1 second favourite.

Mick Halford said afterwards: "I'm happy with that and it's good to get him started. "He travelled well but wasn't doing a whole lot in front. He'll go to Naas now and then Ascot.

"He was only ready to start and I'm very happy. Shane said he had a good blow at the furlong pole and was just doing enough from there.

"The faster they go the better for him and the faster the ground the better."

Halford will see how he performs in the Lacken Stakes on June 1st before deciding whether to keep him at sprint trips or step up to seven furlongs for the Jersey.

"I'll wait and see what happens in Naas. He's in the Jersey. He hasn't got any slower over the winter. We'll keep our options open and see what happens."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson