In Salutem and Shane Foley winning for trainer Ken Condon © Photo Healy Racing
There was a case of deja vu at Navan as In Salutem landed the Come Racing Again Sunday 8th November Handicap for the second successive year.
Kevin Condon's charge was 14lb higher in the handicap this time around, but punters were in no doubt about his chances, backing him into 6-5 favouritism just before the off.
The five-year-old was always travelling powerfully in rear in the hands of Shane Foley, who brought his mount through with a smooth run from just over a furlong out for a cosy length-and-a-quarter success from Calm Bay who battled on well having been up with the pace throughout.
Jim Bolger completed a double on the card when Vintage Charm led home fellow Bolger inmate Ringside Humour in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Fillies Handicap.
The 10-1 winner found plenty for Rory Cleary's pressure to leave his stablemate, the 11-4 favourite and mount of Kevin Manning, behind in the final furlong.
Earlier, Bolger's Burning Bullet (6-1) showed a tenacious attitude when getting the better of two experienced rivals on his first outing in the opening Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Maiden (2.05).< Goodwill (5-1) fended off the late challenge of his stablemate Gran Paradiso by a half-length to make a winning introduction in the Come Racing Again Sunday 8th November Maiden.
Aidan O'Brien's son of Montjeu is closely related to Group 2 winner David Livingston, and his connections' hopes will be high that he can scale similar heights with this experience under his belt.
The well-backed favourite Monocle disappointed in the Navan Welcomes Owners Median Auction Maiden, as Dinozzo (25-1) scored comfortably on his racecourse bow for Ger Lyons, seeing off fellow outsider Maneen by two lengths.
25-1 outsider Jacobs Well nabbed Bunk Off Early by a neck in the Arkle Bar Handicap, while Talented Kid (11-1) won impressively in the www.navanracecourse.ie Handicap, powering clear under Jack Kennedy.
