Townend cuts deficit to three in jockeys' title race

Icare Desbois wore down his main market rivals Union Station and Omniscient to take the opening maiden hurdle in Naas.

The front three were well clear of the remainder turning for home with front-running Omniscient leading Union Station and Icare Desbois in third.

Omniscient flicked through the top of two out, but got away from it well as Icare Desbois made a slight mistake.

Paul Townend soon got after Icare Desbois who stayed on before the last at which he wasn't great over, however, Omniscient made a worse mistake and was soon passed by Union Station.

The long run-in aided Icare Debois' cause as Townend kept him wide to deliver his challenge. He forged home best to get up in the closing stages from Union Station with the two main protagonists track-width apart.

The 6/4 favourite prevailed by a length and a-quarter from Union Street (15/8). Omniscient (9/4) kept trying on the run-in, but gave best to the winner by three lengths.

Townend said: “He’s been disappointing to be honest up to now and even his jumping over the last couple still let me down a little bit.

“I think as the ground dries out, he’ll improve away. His best run was Leopardstown which was the driest ground, and we got the best of it around here today.

“It was in the boiling point going to the last - it’s an important win for me!”

This cut Jack Kennedy's lead to three (116-113) in the jockeys' title race.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee