Well backed Mullins favourite wins Naas' opener

Sayo overcame adversity to justify strong market confidence and win the opening New Experience at Naas Maiden Hurdle at Naas today, scoring for Champion Trainer Willie Mullins and former Champion Jockey Paul Townend.

The grey son of Dalakhani, backed from 6/4 this morning in to the 8/11 favourite, had chased leader Galtymore for much of the trip but a mistake at the third last flight saw him shuffled to fifth place.

Townend's path in the home straight was then troublesome and having been switched from the inner to the outside after jumping the second last, finished strongly on the run-in. Sayo did eventually hit the line in top gear and scored a three parts of a length win over Les Arceaux

Afterwards Townend reported "it was a gutsy performance as he didn't jump quick across the bottom and he wasn't good up the straight either. I had to switch him left and right a couple of times but I thought he was very good to get out of trouble.

"I thought he would have jumped a bit better. We didn't go that quick early on and we quickened up across the bottom. When the pressure came on he let me down a couple of times but that will come with time. He stayed well."

Quotes from Alan Magee