Huddle Up gained a first win of the year at Navan today, as Willie McCreery's gelding narrowly landed the Blackcastle Handicap under the trainer's apprentice jockey Nathan Crosse.

The son of Anjaal was a winner on heavy ground previously at Cork in August 2020 and today, having his third start of the year, prevailed by a short-head from Pretty Boy Floyd

Trainer McCreery later said “Mike O’Donnell, a Tipperary man living in Kildare, owns him and he has Royal Canford as well who got black type for him this year.

“I didn’t run him all summer as I think he needs an ease in the ground. He ran a cracker in Naas the last day and he got stopped once or twice as everyone is trying to veer to the outside which is not good at a premier track.

“Nathan was good and strong on him and good for his 3lb claim. He got him up well on the line.

“He’s in the sales on November 1 but doubt if we’ll sell him as I think he’ll be a lovely horse next year with a bit of ease in the ground.”

Quotes from Alan Magee