Mehmar doubles up for O'Callaghan

The Michael O'Callaghan-trained Mehmar made it two-from-two this season with a fine front-running performance in the Fern Lane Handicap at Naas.

Colin Keane bounced out in front on the Mehmas gelding and he soon had company with Never Shout Never coming upsides early in the race, run over just shy of six furlongs.

Keane asked his mount to kick on by a couple of lengths over a furlong from home and the 7/4 favourite was always doing enough in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half win.

“He's going the right way and is making up for lost time,” said O'Callaghan, who trains the winner for the MyRacehorse syndicate.

“Colin said he's very straightforward, pings the gates. I was lucky to find this race for him, with not so many runners.

“It ticks another box and gets the second run out of the way. We might go to the drawing board now and make a plan. We'll progress our way up.

“I like the way he put his head down there and just did enough all the way to the line.”