Chris Hayes celebrates his Naas treble© Photo Healy Racing
Chris Hayes put the cap on a treble at Naas when winning the concluding division two of the mile handicap aboard 12/1 (from 18s) Moutarde
The handicap debutant was strongly pressed and indeed headed by second-reserve Comfort Line but gamely dug out more close home to get back up by a neck from the 17/2 runner-up. Play It Again Zaam (10/1) and Designer Cailin (20/1) rounded out the placings.
Moutarde sported a hood for the first time on his fifth start having been unplaced in his previous four outings.
This was another winner for in-form Gavin Cromwell ahead of the Punchestown Festival which starts tomorrow.
He said: “He surprised me to be honest. He wasn’t planning on making it, but he took him there and he travelled away grand and stayed going.
“I thought he was going to fall in a hole at the two pole, but he kept on well.”
Hayes also won aboard Tai Tam Bay (6/1) and Hasna at 3/1. The treble paid 363/1.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
