Athassel gets off the mark under King The well-bred Athassel Abbey got off the mark on her eighth start she took the last at Naas, the Hospitality At Naas Fillies Maiden, under Connor King for David Wachman. The three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock is out of Irish Oaks winner Vintage Tipple and she was once rated as high as 93. Down to a mark of 80 now she was sent off at 6/1 as she dropped in trip to a mile for the first time this season. Sent straight to the front by King she was pressed by the well-backed 5/2 favourite Eagle Valley (10/1 in a place this morning) from two furlongs out. She was soon ridden and went a few lengths clear, keeping on well inside the final furlong to just hold off the late surge of Rainfall Radar by a neck. The runner-up was returned at 9/2 under Declan McDonogh for Joe Murphy while the aforementioned Eagle Valley was a further four and a three parts of a length back in third under Pat Smullen for Tracey Collins. Connor King said afterwards: "She deserved that and I thought the drop back to a mile would suit her." STEWARDS REPORTS * C.D. Hayes, rider of Rose Anjou (GB) trained by Tracey Collins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount received pressure from her outside shortly after leaving stalls. * K.J. Manning, rider of Vintage Charm trained by J. S. Bolger, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran onto heels about 1 furlong out. * E.J. McNamara, rider of Papal Parade, trained by P.F.O'Donnell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount had to check off heels shortly after leaving stalls. * L.F. Roche, rider of Strut And Trade, trained by S. Curling, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount had to check off heels shortly after leaving stalls. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
