Mi Esperanza gains deserved win in Naas sprint handicap

Mi Esperanza gained a deserved win when justifying 4/1 favouritism in the Quinns Of Baltinglass & Castletown Press Business Club Handicap at Naas.

The Andrew Kinsella-trained mare has been a model of consistency since scoring at Tipperary last summer and filled the runner-up spot on both previous outings this term.

She was prominent throughout on the stands’ side in this big field sprint, and kept on well inside the final furlong under Shane Foley to beat Pretty Smart by half a length. Celtic Manor can be considered an unlucky loser as he stumbled badly coming away from stalls but finished well to take third spot, with Trueba completing the places in fourth.

Kinsella said, “I wasn’t going to come here today but to be fair to Shane he told me to enter her up for it.

“I thought the weight would kill her coming up the hill.

“Shane said if there is rain coming run her as I think she’ll win. He’d more faith in her than I had. I know she’s consistent but she’s always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

"She might run again at Navan next Saturday. I'll see how she comes out of this."