The Truant proves too strong for Navan rivals The Truant recorded the third win of his career when staying on best under Robert Whearty to claim the Enjoy Hospitality At Navan Racecourse Handicap at the County Meath track. Held up in the initial stages of the race, the eight-year-old grey settled well as Duke Of Leggagh led Inchiquin Maid. The latter came through to take over with three furlongs to run. Whearty then made a race winning move on the outside of the field to edge ahead with still over a furlong to race. Finding plenty once asked to go and win his race, the Paul Flynn trained gelding lengthened smartly up the hill to win by one-and-a-half lengths from the staying on Makaiah. Paul Flynn said: "He actually surprised us a little bit. "I always thought he wanted soft ground with pedigree and everything. We kind of figured out in the middle of last year that he didn't. In fairness to Kevin Sexton, he said he's definitely a better horse on good ground. "He ran well over hurdles the last day too. "He was second in the Curragh in a two-mile handicap last year. I hope the race is still there and we will try and get into that. "He doesn't mind a cut either, so he's a great summer horse. He's versatile and, the way they water anyway, you are going to have to be. "He hasn't improved dramatically and I don't think it was probably the best contest but it was ideal anyway. "They (Thirteen Apostles Racing Syndicate) will need a new liver now!" Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
