Pillar makes breakthrough under 'hot' Keane

Pillar (5/1 2nd favourite) gained a deserved maiden win after some consistent efforts, getting off the mark at the 24th time of asking in the Follow Navan On Facebook Handicap.

After riding trebles at Dundalk on Friday night, and at Limerick on Saturday, Colin Keane was the right man to be aboard the Sean Gallagher-owned and Ado McGuinness trained Pillar on this occasion.

Keane had narrowly come up short in the preceding Listed race on Ardhoomey but there was to be no repeat in this sprint handicap.

The successful Rock Of Gibraltar gelding got home by half a length and a head from Gopsies Daughter and market leader Sweetest Taboo (9/2 into 7/2).

Ado McGuinness said: "He was overdue a win. He has been running very consistently even up in Dundalk. He loves quick ground. We'll tip away with him. This is Sean's (Gallagher, owner) local track and he loves getting a winner here so it's great for him. Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him.

"When we got him first we thought he was a miler. He's very fast and it was really only when we saw his speed that we started dropping him back. A stiff five or six is what he really wants. When he runs in sprints he gets very hot so it's hard to get him to settle over longer trips."

(MG & EM)