Review NAAS 21ST OCT

Curragh trainer John Oxx provided the winner of the Garnet Stakes in the shape of Gaelic Queen, ridden to lead 2f out under Niall McCullagh and holding off the challenge of Charles O'Brien's Kalamunda.

Oxx, who also saddled Julie Jalouse (5/2-3/1f) to finish 10th, said of the winner, 'She's a good filly with a great heart. I wish all horses were like her. She loves the ground, the heavier the better.'

On future plans, Oxx said, 'She's in the December sales, but might now be a doubtful runner there. Her next race is likely to be the 7f Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown on the 10th November.'

Jim Bolger's Marionnaud (7/1-8/1-7/1) completed a hat-trick of wins this month when Kevin Manning produced her with a surging late run on the stands side to capture the #45,000 Birdcatcher Nursery from Paris Express.

The Kevin Prendergast 7/2 favourite Sandford Park, who was 2nd to Marionnaud at Navan during the week, ran a disappointing 8th.

Punters got their fingers burnt early on in the day when the first two hot favourites were beaten.

Aidan O'Brien's $1.5m yearling Kasparov (7/1), blinkered for the first time, got the ball rolling when upstaging the well-backed Masani (6/4-2/1-5/4f) in the opening Tifrums Maiden.

The following Castlemartin Stud EBF Maiden saw Easy Sunshine (2/1-6/4f) beaten into third behind Fashion Guide (7/1), owned by local businessman Liam Queally.

Winning trainer Noel Meade said 'We think this is a very good horse. She's been very consistent, likes 6f and handles the ground well. We'll try and win a Stakes race over 6f next year.'

Michael Hourigan's Lanturn Leader stayed on well on the rails to foil the gamble on the much supported Farinel (13/2-4/1) in the closing stages of the 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle under Philip Carberry.

The Patrickswell handler remarked 'He's a very tough and consistent horse, and I think we'll send him to Galway next Monday for the 2m 5f #25,000 handicap hurdle.'

English raider Celtic Mission (5/1-4/1jf) produced the goods under 18 year old Keith Dalgleish to land the Tote Exacta Handicap in which no starting stalls were used.

Trainer Mark Johnston was not present, but travelling head lad Justin Buckham stated 'Our only worry was the tape start, but Keith geed him up and got him going. This was his 51st winner and his first in Ireland. He's going to be a superstar!'

Friend's Amigo (9/2-3/1) enjoyed an impressive 6L victory in the concluding bumper, after which trainer Pat Doyle said, 'He's a proper horse with a lot of pace. We'll put him away until after Christmas with Cheltenham in mind.'

On a day when the bookmakers enjoyed the better of the exchanges, there was just one lucky winner of the jackpot worth #9,584.60.