Shane Crosse celebrates with G Force© Photo Healy Racing
Former Group One winner G Force showed there is still plenty of speed in his legs with a decisive victory in Naas.
The seven-year-old gelding gave 10lb-claimer Shane Crosse (16) from Tipperary his first racecourse victory in the six-furlong handicap.
The pair chased the pace before moving up to lead over a furlong out. G Force was then ridden to go clear in the final furlong and swept home by five and a half lengths at 4/1 (from 11/2). Comhghairdeas (4/1) and 2/1 favourite Band Of Outlaws came in second and third respectively.
Trainer Adrian Keatley, saddling his first winner of this campaign, said: "The two runs would have brought him on a ton.
“He ran a blinder on his first two runs and that will do his confidence the world of good. He wouldn't be the most confident creature in the world.
“Last year I cut him and did his wind at the start of last year and he just never thrived all year. He was a head and a tail all last year.
“This winter he has thrived and hopefully now he can step up again. There is a decent handicap in him along the way, hopefully a Stewards Cup or an Ayr Gold Cup. That's the long-term plan.
“Goodwood turned up fierce soft last year and Ayr last year wasn't even run but most years there is plenty of cut in the ground.
“He probably doesn't want it as deep as that but he wants a good bit of ease. It's good to get him off the mark.”
Shane Crosse said: "It's special enough to get my first winner on a horse like himself. It's great to get on top of my brother today (Nathan Crosse sixth on Patuano !
"From the word go he was in my hands the whole way. I thought I might have got there too soon but when I got there he wasn't stopping. That will do his confidence the power of good.
"I have been down with Joseph (O'Brien) for nearly a year. I've learned loads down there and he has been very good to me.
"I rode 40 odd pony racing winners so that's a massive help."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
