The three-way battle for the Flat jockeys championship was the main focus of attention at Navan yesterday, and Michael Kinane did his prospects no harm when completing a treble on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tesio, Kournakova and Life Match.
Tesio took a slight advantage over Tender Cove at the furlong pole in the opening Poplar Race, and was driven out by Kinane to just hold on by a shorthead.
Kournakova readily justified odds of 4/9 in the Kilcarn Stud EBF Fillies Maiden. The Sadler's Wells filly was always travelling well, and swept to the front over a furlong out to beat Ciara's Delight by four and a half lengths.
Kinane recorded his 72nd winner of the season when giving Life Match a strong drive to hold off Millenium Lilly by half a length in the Clonmellon Maiden.
However championship leader Pat Smullen struck back in the concluding Kilnaleck Maiden where Glens Music cruised past Limestone Lad early in the straight for a runaway victory. Reigning title holder Smullen is now on the 75 winner mark, three ahead of both Kinane and John Murtagh.
Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger were another team in double form with Marionnaud and Masnada. Marionnaud carried the colours of Dunboyne accountant Paschal Murphy for the day, the winning prize in a competition run by spread betting firm Sporting Index. The Spectrum filly held the late surge of Sandford Park by a head, and could bid for a hat-trick in the valuable Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas on Sunday.
Masnada completed the Manning/Bolger double when giving weight all round in the Donaghpatrick Race, staying on bravely up the final climb to the line for a length verdict over She's Our Girl.
Peaceful Sarah recorded her third win in the past 11 days when asserting over a furlong out under Robert Egan in the Crosserlough Handicap, and holding the strong challenge of Ansari by half a length.
The stabling area was unable to cope with the large volume of runners on the day, and a number of trainers were frustrated by the lack of a box for their charges.
Alan Magee
