Polly Douglas and Andrew Breslin lead home Aspen Belle and Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
Polly Douglas followed-up on her win at Ayr last month, as she took the Naas Parish Handicap under Andrew Breslin for Kieran Cotter.
The four-year-old daughter of Le Cadre Noir was a well-backed winner at Ayr, and she went off a 7/1 chance this evening in the colours of owner David Mooney.
Prominent in the centre of the track, she improved to lead from the two furlong pole and was soon ridden, keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by a length and three parts.
The 6/1 favourite Aspen Belle had every chance, but couldn't match the winner, and had to settle for second under Leigh Roche for Pat Martin. Tom Dooley (14s this morning and from 9s to 7s on-course) kept on well to take third, another length and three parts back for Billy Lee and Richard O'Brien, while Breezolini (25/1) completed the placings two lengths away in fourth.
Cotter, who is based on the Laois/Kildare border near Portarlington, said afterwards: "She's progressed nicely from Ayr.
"I knew she was in great form but I was very worried when I saw the tacky ground. She ran well last year at the Curragh with cut in the ground so we let her take her chance.
"I told Andrew not to hit the front until the final furlong but they all fell away a bit. She's fresh and well and hopefully she can compete at a higher grade."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
