Review naas 16th Oct

< Handassa at last began to build on the promise of her eyecatching debut victory last back-end when she took the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes at Naas.

Supported into 7-2 favouritism, Kevin Prendergast's filly was brought widest of all into the straight to unleash her challenge for the Listed prize by Declan McDonogh.

She took a while to wear down Hurricane Havoc and Empowering up front, but eventually asserted and went two lengths clear in the final half-furlong.

The victory completed a double for the trainer and jockey after Bulbul was played late in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and showed a smart turn of foot.

McDonogh had to be patient but once she saw daylight, the 7-2 chance swept aside favourite Bird's Eye View and streaked clear to win by four and three-quarter lengths.< Beau Amadeus (14-1) chose the right moment to break his duck as he won for the first time in 11 outings in the valuable Derrinstown Stud EBF Birdcatcher Nursery.

It didn't look likely at halfway as Wayne Lordan was struggling to keep him in touch with the pack, but Adrian McGuinness's juvenile stayed on stoutly and led well inside the final furlong to win by two lengths.< Highly Efficient made a brave bid to lead all the way in the Naas October Handicap, but Pat Smullen reeled him in on the Dermot Weld-trained Celebrity Sevi (7-1), who strode two and a half lengths clear.

Johnny Murtagh struck with John Oxx's newcomer Sambusca in the Tifrums EBF Maiden, the 7-4 favourite getting the better of a duel with Hongkong Dancer to score by two lengths.

The betting suggested the Profile Systems Kommerling C70 Hurdle was a match between high-class sorts Pittoni and Donnas Palm and so it proved.

The pair jumped the second-last together but Pittoni (4-6 favourite) looked to be going the better and Charles Byrnes' five-year-old was shaken up to go clear by Barry Geraghty before easing home by 12 lengths.