Two for McManus and Walsh at Naas

The former Gerry Neilan-trained 'pointer,' A Grey Matter (third behind Tell Us More 'between the flags'), brought up a Naas double for J P McManus and Mark Walsh when landing a gamble in the Follow Naas On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.

Martin Brassil does the handling now on the successful Beneficial gelding, equipped here with a tongue-strap for the first time.

Earlier winners with the Edward O'Grady-trained Kitten Rock here McManus and Walsh's representative went off a 5/2 chance, having been at least 6/1 in earlier trading. Westerners Son is a game front-runner, as he showed at Leopardstown at Christmas, and he rallied after being headed by A Grey Matter before the last (where the winner wasn't great).

However, try as Dermot McLoughlin's charge might, he was still half a length adrift of A Grey Matter (overcame a mistake three out too) at the line. Favourite Frontline was two and a half lengths off them in third.

Brassil stated: "Most of his promising runs were around Naas last year but I wasn't sure about the ground. He's improved from his run at Leopardstown, and has taken a while to learn his trade. He'll make a grand chaser in time."

D.N. Russell, rider of Frontline trained by Peter Fahey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right in running.

(AM & EM)