Despite being open to winners of one, the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race over a mile at Navan yesterday afternoon saw a field of eight maidens go to post.
Head of the betting was Poetical on the strength of a good debut second. However, after getting the better of a tussle with second market choice Tu Eres Mi Amore inside the final furlong, she couldn't raise her effort to contain 7/1 shot, Happy At Last.
John Oxx's newcomer was produced along the rail under Fran Berry to lead about one hundred yards from home and she ultimately beat the 'jolly' by half a length.
Jim O'Neill representing the winning handler commented 'she's a nice filly. We thought she'd run well without winning and she should do well over the winter'.
The other conditions event on the card lost much of it's interest with Chappel Cresent an absentee. Multazem appeared a racing certainty to beat the rest and this he duly did.
Going off a 30/100 chance, Pat Smullen made virtually all aboard Dermot Weld's three-year-old to record a comfortable one and a half length success over Conspiring who ran very well considering the terms on which she met the winner.
Weld and Smullen doubled up in the following event when Sissy Slew came from well back entering the straight to register a neck victory over Emmas Princess.
The win was maintaining the remarkable run of success being enjoyed by owner, Joe Higgins, whose last five runners have all proved victorious. Of course the win of Dimitrova in the States last weekend was the highlight of these.
Michael Kinane has been partnering winners for outside yards at an astounding rate this term and punters weren't slow about latching on to this fact in the first divide of the mile and two handicap.
Aboard top-weight, Avec Plaisir for Francis Flood, the four-year-old was supported from 8/1 into 5/1. Driven clear inside the final furlong to the sound of plenty of encouragement from the stands, the champion rider was able to ease his mount down close home for a two and a half length win.
The twelve times top rider brought up a twenty one and a half to one double in the other division of this heat. Here teaming up with Noel Meade, Athlumney Lad gained reward for his consistency with a comprehensive two length win.
Bookmakers couldn't give favourite, Monocouche away in the opening fillies maiden. An 11/4 shot from an opening chalk of 5/4, the market was proved correct as Jim Bolger's representative could fare no better than seventh. There was support for second market choice Shinko Express but she disappointingly trailed in last.
However, running in the same ownership as the latter, Normandy Princess (11/2) sported the first silks and made all the running to record a comfortable half length success. Tadhg O'Shea partnered the daughter of King Of Kings for his boss Michael Halford who also saddled the runner-up, Kilmore Princess which performed well on her debut.
Kevin Prendergast was back in form in the following auction maiden. The Friarstown handler saddled 8/11 favourite, Chained Emotion who appeared to hold outstanding claims on the back of a third in the valuable Foal Levy Stakes at the Curragh on his previous start.
Odds-on punters were happy to see Declan McDonagh's mount lead over a furlong out and he kept on well in the closing stages to hold the late flourish of runner up, Rochetto at a margin of half a length.
Catherine Gannon has been in fine form of late and she successfully teamed up with Tony Martin in the sprint handicap.
On her first mount for the local handler, the five-year-old was delivered with a well-timed challenge and was going away at the finish for a half length win. The successful handler described a stiff five or six as the filly's ideal trip.
