Shipyard one for the layers in Navan opener

Two strongly fancied horses clashed in the opening Kells Maiden at Navan but after five favourites in a row obliging at Tipperary yesterday, the layers got Maktoob and Great Minds beaten as Andy Oliver's 7/1 shot Shipyard scored under Gary Carroll.

Kevin Prendergast 's Maktoob was a bit tardy from the gate and was always on the back foot a touch whilst in contrast Tommy Stack's Great Minds 'lorded it' over the opposition for much of the journey.

In the words of one famous recently retired Aussie caller, Great Minds and Wayne Lordan looked "home for all money," when going to the front from over a furlong out – no doubt much to the delight of those that joined in a gamble from around 11s this morning into an SP of 3s.

However, for whatever reason, Great Minds didn't see it out fully and Shipyard, who showed himself to have the stamina for a mile on his debut at Listowel, got up on the line to prevail by the minimum margin. The aforementioned Maktoob ran well in the circumstances to take the third spot.

Winning owner/trainer Andy Oliver said: "He wants a bit further than that but there just hasn't been suitable opportunities to run him.

"I think he's versatile enough trip wise and he's certainly not short of speed.

"He's by Pivotal and he appreciates some cut in the ground. I'll turn him out again as soon as he gets a handicap mark." (AM & EM)