Ardhoomey shows plenty of toe in Navan

The well-backed Ardhoomey romped home in Navan's six furlong maiden for three-year-olds and older.

Colin Keane and the 7/4 favourite broke well to lead. Inside the three pole he travelled strongly as Araner in second and Belezza Oscura in third both came off the bridle.

With a furlong and a half to go the three-year-old colt asserted and soon moved clear under hands and heels. Mick Halford's Belezza Oscura kept on for second at 12/1 with Shane Foley in the saddle. He was beaten by four and three quarter lengths. Ibergman at 14/1 put in some good late work to take third place for Sheila Lavery and Ronan Whelan. She was beaten five and a quarter lengths by the winner.

Successful trainer Ger Lyons said: "He has serious ability but just can't breathe. I thought last year that he could be a Group horse. We'll keep him at that trip as he has the speed to do it.

"A horse of this ability and he's fair paralysed in the wind. We did a major operation with him in the off season. I thought the world of him at two but lucky enough he has the natural pace to come back in trip.

"Colin said you could drop him back to five. Obviously it will catch up with him at some stage [wind problem]. He's so straightforward and is an honest, good-looking horse. He's a brother to Angel Of Joy.

"It's like everything else when you get a good one there's always a problem! We'll have fun over the minimum trip. We'll go as far as we can with him until he tells us to stop."

The winner was 4/1 in the morning although some of the reduction in his price was due to Fort Del Oro being scratched as she was in season.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee