Mctenett makes his mark in Naas

Mctenett showed good improvement to land the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at Naas on his second racecourse start.

He went off 9/4 favourite for this contest after a keeping-on fourth over a similar trip at Sligo earlier in the month.

He was well to the fore from the gates and he took a narrow lead just after halfway. Dylan Browne McMonagle asked for more inside the final furlong and a-half, and rode his mount a couple of lengths clear in the final furlong.

The Starspangledbanner colt showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he strode in by two lengths from main market-rival Byzantine Empress (11/4). Shes Scintillating was another length back in third at 20/1.

Joseph O'Brien said: “He had a nice run the first (day) and he learned a good bit, he was more professional today. He looks like a nice horse going forward.

“We were happy that he'd get the six up here well. It was a nice straightforward ride by Dylan and it's nice to have a winner for Neil (Sands) and the Bronsan team.

“There is plenty of money in those auction races and there is a winners' race in Roscommon in early September.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson