Narjawa finally gets her head in front

Narjawa finally got her head in front in the last race on the card at Sligo this evening, the Glencar Maiden, for her trainer John Oxx with Johnny Murtagh aboard.

The 3yo daughter of Marju finished second at Dundalk twice last year as a 2yo before finishing second yet again on her first start as a 3yo in June of this year at Leopardstown behind One Spirit.

She then disappointing last time out again at Leopardstown where she could only manage to finish fifth behind Forever Glory in a maiden over a mile and one.

However she bounced back today and despite drifting in the market from her morning price of 2/1 out to 5/2 at the off, she stayed on best to get the better of the 9/4 favourite Harangue for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

The runner-up Harangue attempted to make all, but ran wide off the bend away from the stands with a circuit to go. He relinquished his lead there but was push back up to the front soon after.

He tried to assert on the run-in but the winner, who had been pushed along from four furlongs out, moved up his inside to lead and stayed on well to score by three parts of a length at the line.

Winning rider Johnny Murtagh said afterwards: "She deserved to win a maiden. The ground was faster the last day and she enjoyed the bit of cut in it today."

Donal Murphy