Veteran jockey Warren O'Connor recorded his first victory in Ireland since returning from a two year stint in Germany when partnering Jade Quest to a surprise win in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan today.
O'Connor has had a torrid last few years with injury after injury, but enjoyed success 57 times in Germany during his time there. He last won on home soil in the year 2000.
Riding for Charles O'Brien today, he burst through between horses on the 4yo colt (6/1) with a perfectly timed challenge to beat odds-on favourite Maharib by a neck.
Earlier in the day, a massive gamble was landed in the 5f maiden in which John Oxx's Symboli West was backed from 4/1 into 2/1fav.
The Fran Berry-ridden 4yo scored by a fairly comfortable 1 1/2 lengths from Cupids Ray, who could prove to be a serious horse with an extra furlong to cover.
Fran Berry later went on to complete a double when aboard Jessica Harrington's Liffey. The 1/1fav won very stylishly, always looking comfortable and picking up well when asked by Berry.
Civic Duty sprang a surprise in the opening 5f sprint handicap, bolting clear of the pack from just over a furlong out under Padraic Beggy to score by three lengths from Ucanstep.
David Wachman's newcomer All Night Dancer held on by a neck from a strong finising Xaarinshki in the 5f fillies maiden. The 3/1 shot kept on near the line to provide apprentice Michael Cleere with his seventh career win.
Avec Plaisir (8/1), who ended last seson on a winning note at Gowran Park, recorded her 5th career win in the 1m handicap under Declan McDonogh, scoring by the minimum margin from Sahara Prince.
The step up in trip from a mile to 1m 2f worked perfectly for Ger Lyons' Norborne Bandit (5/1) when taking the Meath Handicap by three parts of a length from Windsow Road.
