Hy Brasil shows plenty of ability on debut Newcomer Hy Brasil looked the second string of Joseph O'Brien's pair in the mile and five maiden (for three-year-olds) at Navan but the 20/1 shot didn't read the script. He missed the break and raced towards the rear for 3lb-claimer Shane Crosse. The Fastnet Rock gelding responded well to his jockey's urgings, though, to move into contention on the run to the final couple of furlongs. His progress on the inner saw him hit the front a furlong and a half out and he was soon ridden by Crosse to go and win his race. He didn't show any inexperience at the business end as he closed out the race by a length and a quarter. Try as he might, Zanahiyr (11/4f) couldn't reel him in and finished second. O'Brien's other runner, Monopoly with Declan McDonogh in the plate, was three and a half lengths back in third at 12/1. Shane Crosse said: "Impressed by him in fairness. He stays the trip well and handled the soft ground today. "A little bit surprised but he has been showing okay at home. He has done it well today. "He doesn't really the world alight at home, so it was a question mark what he was going to do when he got to the racetrack, but it seems to have brought out the best in him. "I was there probably two furlongs too soon, but I was impressed with him. "We kind of got into gear early and it slowed down the whole way down the back. I wasn't travelling overly great, so it gave my lad just a chance to get into a rhythm. "Once I got him out into the clear in the straight, and got a smack into him and grabbed him up he was good. "I don't see why he has to go any further than that. He showed plenty of boot there when I was at the brow of the hill to come down. "I could see a mile and a half or a mile and five again no worries." Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “Joseph had been schooling him over hurdles at home. “Without being nasty to the horse, he wouldn't be the quickest in the world. These Fastnet Rock's just seem so laid-back and the racecourse has woken him up. “He can only improve from it as he's a massive, big, raw horse. He just might be okay. “How good the race was we don't know. Maybe the ground suited him but he's galloped the whole way and once he got a couple of smacks into him he's picked up and galloped away again. “He looks a horse that's going to stay well. He's gone and won, his first time on the track, and he's a big, raw baby, so he can only improve. “Hopefully one day he might make a nice jumper for someone.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
