Oak gets off mark with game performance

Vintage Oak produced a fine front-running performance to gain a deserved win in the Slane Handicap Hurdle at Navan.

Ciaran O'Brien 's charge had been seriously unlucky when falling in the lead at Limerick on his penultimate start and had since finished a decent third at the same track.

There was no mistake today as David Casey made virtually all the running on the Arctic Lord gelding and stayed on gamely from before the last to beat Nintytwo Team by a length-and-three-quarters.

"He's a smashing horse - a big baby. He'll make a smashing chaser," said O'Brien.

"He was a bit unlucky at Limerick. I have 12 horses in at the minute and it's a little bit quiet but he's a lovely horse for the future."