Enter The Red (blue blinkers) is ridden out by Tom Madden © Photo Healy Racing
Enter The Red won the navanracecourse.ie Handicap for the second year in-a-row, as he held off all challengers to prevail by a head.
The Aidan Howard trained nine-year-old had run just three times since his victory here twelve months ago, and was a close-up fifth on his penultimate start at the Curragh.
Sent off an 11/1 chance today, the son of Red Clubs was settled behind the leaders by Tom Madden, and was ridden from halfway.
He got to the front a furlong out, and kept on well in the closing stages to hold off the late surge of Amanaat (7s to 11/2) and Miss Power (5s to 4/1fav) by a head and neck.
Denis Hogan trains the runner-up, and he also saddled the fourth horse home who was Gopsies Daughter (14/1).
Howard said afterwards: "It's been a very frustrating season with all of our horses as they need a bit of soft ground. It was great to get a bit of yielding ground today.
"I fancied him after the run up the Curragh where he was only beaten a length and three quarters and he was hampered twice. Simon (Torrens) pulled him up quickly the last day as he felt he'd struck into himself but he was fine afterwards.
"I'm delighted to get another win out of him and there is another sprint back here before the end of the season."
STEWARDS REPORTS
Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iv), the Stewards allowed Gopsies Daughter, trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.
S.M. Crosse, rider of Vinnie's Wish trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost its action 2 furlongs out.
The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Enter The Red, trained by Aidan Anthony Howard, placed first, compared with its last run. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that on his last run, his charge injured himself coming out of the stalls, and to the best of his knowledge this had been reported to the Clerk of scales by the rider. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted that there was no record of the rider's report to scales and they therefore referred this matter to the CEO of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for further investigation.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
