Navarra Pace, left, cuts them down© Photo Healy Racing
Navarra Pace came fast and late to conquer the seven-furlong maiden for three-year-olds plus in Dundalk.
The Footstepsinthesand gelding was available at 33/1 this morning after finishing well behind on debut at the Curragh in September, however, his odds tumbled to 13/2 on the off.
He was drawn in14 and raced in mid-division before having to come wide into the straight under Joey Sheridan.
He ran green when closing in the final furlong and bumped with Cyclamen before he was ridden to swoop in the final strides by a neck. Oh Cleo the 5/4 favourite, was the horse collared late on and she was half a length in front of third-placed Tack (10/1).
“I'm delighted to win for John and Mary (Keaney). I went to school with John so I know him for 50 years, we grew up on the same road,” said trainer Eddie Lynam who was saddling a double after Gobi Star landed the opening claimer.
“The horse did it well. He's a home-bred and it's a good old family he's from too.
“We'll probably find a handicap and step him up to a mile. He was plenty green and it looked like a pretty rough race too.”
A stewards enquiry was called but the result stood.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
