The first ever racing festival at Navan racecourse has been heralded a resounding success.
The weekend saw the crowds arrive in their thousands from overseas , the north and locally.
They got to see some great racing over the two day festival which will follow on to next year and build on the
racing and social diary.
The Cinderella moment was surely local amature Caragh Monaghan riding her first winner under rules.
Going off at odds of 40/1 the Ian Donoghue trained St Denis’s Well was an impressive winner going away in the
finish from Makfils by over four lengths.
Gordon Elliot had another great weekend at Navan adding three winners on Saturday, four on Sunday winners to his tally.
Coko Beach at 20/1 was always comfortable and well placed through the Bar One sponsored Troytown 3 mile chase.
Young D J Gilligan the 3lb claimer, who rode Coko Beach, is making a name for himself having had success at the Galway Festival with Ash Tree Meadow.
was also trained by Gordon Elliott. The owners, Alymer Stud owned by Eamon Waters, won a sensational finish to the Bar One bumper on Saturday.
Only a head and a head between Springt De La Mare, my Trump Card and Apples Of Breslin separated the three !
Credit; Racing TV
Springt De La Mare holds on from My Trump Card and Apples of Bresil by a head and a head.
Overall other Meath based trainers done well. Gavin Cromwell picked up the two bumper winners with Only By Night ridden by Mr. D O’Connor
and Springt De La Mare and Ian Donohgue’s St Denis’s Well.
De Bromhead’s Captain Gunner Picked up the Fortria Chase on Saturday with Dysart Dynamo fell away running from the front
to finish.
The Blackmore and De Bromhead partnership had another winner with Bob Olinger in the earlier race
It was good to see American Mike finally show promise jumping really well in the Beginners Chase 2m 4f on Sunday giving
Noel and Valerie Moran a winner on the day.They had two decent seconds the previous day with Zanahiyr 5/4 Fav to Bob Olinger in the
2m 4f Railway Bar Lismullin Hurdle and Riviere D’etel to Captain Guinness in The Bar One Fortria.
Noel Meade’s Thedevilscoachman was a disappointing morning favourite in the Troytown Chase drifting at the off to J P McManus who also
owned Limerick Lace at 4/1. The winner Coko Beach was always comfortable whereas Thedevilscoachman struggled from the start,over jumping and off the pace.
Mark Walsh tried to coax him into the race bur never really made any impression finishing 7th over 15 lengths from the winner.
There will be plenty of winners from this weekend at Navan over the coming months and then into the spring of next year.
The RTE panel debated the lack of other owners and trainers failing to take on Elliott’s charges at Navan in The Troytown with plenty of horses.
He had plenty entered but they wouldn’t take him on,whatever the reasons is anyone guess but Andrew McNamara said it best when he said this is Elliott’s
home track why wouldn’t he aim for the Troytown while other trainers head elsewhere in the season.
Next week sees Punchestown followed by Fairyhouse the following weekend with Bar One packing more sponsorship into the national hunt.
