Navan’s opening three-year-old two mile maiden hurdle was landed in good style by Edward Harty’s In Bloom on her jumping debut at 8/1 with Niall Madden in the saddle.
The daughter of Montjeu had been campaigned on the flat with limited success but she readily took to hurdling when racing prominently throughout and fending off Dessie Hughes’ well-backed Chill (4/1 to 3/1) by a-length-and-a-quarter after a battle from the final flight.
Eddie Harty snr, father of trainer Eddie Harty said: “Shes’ a nice big filly. She was placed on the flat but just lacked the pace in a finish. She jumps well and we were hoping she would run well.
“We’ll pick her races for her. There’s a good series for fillies so we don’t have to take on the colts and geldings.
“I asked the jockey [Niall Madden] why he went to the front so soon and he replied that she was going so easily.
“She ran in my wife’s colours and they go back three or four generations. It’s good to see them out again.”
With the first two pulling well clear, Bat Masterson took third place eight lengths away at 10/3. His Excellency representing Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell was sent off 5/4 favourite but faded out of contention to come home eighth.
Michael Graham
