Six Of Hearts and Sam James hit the front 100 yards from home in a seven furlong handicap at Naas and fended off fast-finishing Collingwood to score by a short head in a bunch finish.

The blinkered seven-year-old gelding from Cecil Ross’s Mullingar yard was nibbled at from 8/1 to an SP of 7/1. Collingwood, returning from almost six months off, was returned at 16/1. Moran Gra at 12/1 was a head back in third place with well-backed Spirit of Xaar (16/1 to 12/1) rewarding each-way punters by completing the placings a further head back in the 16-runner handicap.

Six Of Hearts had posted a good run in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last time which saw him raised seven pounds. The five-pound claim from jockey James reduced his weight from a top weight of 10-4 to 9-13 in this competitive handicap. Miss Eze was gambled on off course from 20/1 to 14/1 and then on course from 16/1 to 12/1, however, the gamble was foiled as she finished third last.