Tom Howley junior had a day to remember as Ask Jack landed the Listed www.corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes under Wayne Lordan at about the same time as Russian War was doing the business at Cheltenham with Paul Carberry up. The Galway owner also had Supercede finish runner-up in the opener at Prestbury Park.
Tote Galway Mile hero Ask Jack had to be tough in the Cork feature as he slugged it out from some way down with Separate Ways Once he'd got the better of that one Hujaylea arrived with his bid but the Joe Murphy-trained winner found more to prevail by half a length with a short head and a head back to the aforementioned Separate Ways and Across The Rhine
Murphy, completing a double himself, following the earlier success of White Daffodil said: "That was a great performance and we're delighted with the horse. He is genuine – very tough. He has options now – hurdles, Group company or the sales in Newmarket.
"We'll bring him to the sales anyway and see what he makes. He is a diamond so it'll be easy to polish him up.
"I was expecting a big run too from the filly. I thought we could be second with Silver Tide even though she is only rated 79. She was unlucky (hampered over two furlongs)." King Jock who finished sixth here, has been retired to Thistle Farms in County Kilkenny. The nine-year-old was successful in the 2006 Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown. He won 10 races from 71 starts.
