Martin at the double with Spacious Sky

Spacious Sky gave trainer Tony Martin a double at Navan when winning the 18-runner handicap hurdle over two miles.

The four-year-old gelding was uneasy in the market drifting from 13/2 this morning out to an SP of 10/1, however, he forged on well from fourth at the last to get his head in front by half a length with Robbie Colgan doing the cajoling. Big Generator had set the pace throughout, but he blundered two from home and was collared in the last 50 yards and had to settle for second at 12/1 (from an opening show on course of 16s). Dayrina (25/1) and Black Zero (12/1) came home third and fourth. There was a four and a quarter length gap back to 3/1 favourite King Of Oriel in fifth.

“I thought he had a great chance in Naas, but he missed one or two early and the race got away from him. He did plenty of schooling with Robbie during the week and it worked out to our advantage,” Tony Martin reported.

Spacious Sky had been eighth in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on the flat, two runs back. He was then 10th in a handicap hurdle in Naas at the end of October, the race Martin referred to.