Al Mohalhal shows Birdcatcher speed

Al Mohalhal clearly relished the uphill finish in Naas as he stormed to victory in the six furlong 'Birdcatcher' nursery.

The Acclamation colt broke well to seize the initiative. He had Fantastic Secret on his inside for company but Al Mohalhal was going much the better inside halfway.

He was ridden at the two pole by Kevin Manning and picked up well. With a furlong to race, he had seen off all his rivals with the exception of Snowy Scene who was a length and a half behind.

Al Mohalhal wasn't for stopping though and thundered home to score by a length and three parts at 9/2. Snowy Scene (7/1) picked up a runner-up prize. Fantastic Secret was three and a half lengths away in third at 25/1.

Jim Bolger said: "I was going to stick to maidens and then said I'll take a chance. There is a nursery at Leopardstown next week over seven furlongs, and we'll see how he is."

This win gave Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning a double on the card as Tribal Beat took the opener for them.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee