Next Bend takes Navan finale

Irish Grand National winning trainer Tom Gibney was on the mark in the concluding Navan Adventure Sports And Driving Range Handicap at Navan today as his Next Bend recorded his second win in his last three starts, winning under jockey Seamie Heffernan.

Six of the earlier seven winners had made all to win but Heffernan was the only jockey on the afternoon to come for off-the-pace and win, having held Next Bend up in mid-division before making his winning challenge from three furlongs out.

Following the win, Gibney, who trained Lion Na Bearnai to an Irish National win, stated “he been running on bad ground during the winter, and handled it okay. He was in good form (won over hurdles two starts ago) and there was no reason not to run him."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee