Donal Murphy
Cashel the Star at Naas
Star Of Cashel is ridden out by Chris Hayes
© Photo Healy Racing
Star Of Cashel justified favouritism in the Support Naas Local Businesses Handicap, scoring under Chris Hayes for Fozzy Stack.
An eye-catching third on his handicap debut at Leopardstown last month, the son of No Nay Never was fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue-strap for the first time this afternoon.
Drawn on the outside in stall eleven, the bay victor was settled behind the leaders and was pushed along to challenge from the two furlong pole.
Ridden to the front inside the final furlong, he stretched clear in the closing stages, going on to prevail by a length and three quarters from the Jack Davison trained Madaket Mystery (13/2) in second. Miss Molly T (9/1) flew home to take third, a further half a length back under Colin Keane for his father Gerry.
Stack said afterwards: "He'd a good run in Leopardstown and hopefully he'll go forward from here. He's in again at Roscommon on Tuesday so he'll probably go there.
"He sweats up a lot but is a very calm horse and Alan Crowe's father Peter rides him out every day."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee