In Salutem now a three time winner at Navan

The Ken Condon trained In Salutem recorded his third career success at Navan, and his sixth overall, as he ran out a good winner of the County And Western Evening Friday 8th July Handicap.

Placed on his last two starts, the chestnut son of Sakhee's Secret opened on-course at 4/1 before going off the 10/3 favourite.

Settled in mid-division by Colm O’Donoghue, he was sixth three furlongs out. He was pushed along from the two furlong pole and soon went fourth on the outer.

He came with his challenge just over a furlong out, and he was soon ridden to lead, keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by a comfortable two lengths. Russian Soul (7/1) kept on well to take second under Shane Foley for Mick Halford, while Kasbah (7/2) was a further length and a half back in third under Pat Smullen for Johnny Murtagh.

Ken Condon said afterwards: "He likes Navan and the Curragh. The old adage horses for courses and he seems to like stiffer tracks were he's coming off a strong pace.

"They can't go hard enough for him, and he likes coming through after a bit of cover early. He's been a great servant, and he goes on most ground apart from very soft.

"We'll aim for a six-furlong handicap on Derby weekend, and then there is the Paddy Power he ran well in last year. He'll also go for the big sprint handicap on Champions Weekend that he was second in last year but was then disqualified.

"He could be a horse for the Ayr Gold Cup as he handles a bit of cut."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee