Emerald enjoys beautiful Naas terrain The owner of Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness put up the money for the Declan Landy Fencing Handicap and it was the speedsters from the Flat that were on display here, 2/1 favourite Eclipse Emerald showing the rest the way home in the hands of Joey Sheridan at Naas. Second market choice Kortez Bay, one of two representatives of the Sheila Lavery yard, gave Eclipse Emerald most to do, but the winner was noted travelling well from a fair way out and a length split them at the finish. Winning trainer Fozzy Stack said afterwards: “He’s a nice horse and will improve with racing. I thought he’d nearly win in the Curragh the last day but he probably got a little tired in hindsight as he’s a burly horse. “He takes plenty of graft so the more racing he gets the fitter he’ll get. Hopefully he can progress into a nice sprinter. “He doesn’t kill himself when he gets to the front. Joey said if he came a 100 yards sooner he’d have got beaten. He minds himself. “It’s beautiful ground there today, genuine good ground.” D. McMonagle, rider of Ohailbhic, trained by John James Feane, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got no luck in running. The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages involving Perfect Judgement, ridden by C.J. MacRedmond, unplaced, Port Louis, ridden by R. Whearty, unplaced, and Verified, ridden by N.G. McCullagh, unplaced where it appeared that Verified ran short of racing room. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. C.J. MacRedmond stated that he was outpaced at the time of the incident, but felt he had kept his racing line. R. Whearty stated that he did not contribute to the incident. N.G. McCullagh stated that he was travelling very well and never had a gap and concluded by stating that the incident was just unfortunate. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards did not apportion blame to any rider and took no further action. N.G. McCullagh, rider of Verified, trained by Charles Weld, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was unlucky in running. (AM & EM)
