William Ashford is driven out by Tom Madden© Photo Healy Racing
William Ashford stayed on strongly to take the Book On-line At naasracecourse.com Handicap, providing trainer John Hayden with his first win since August of 2011.
The chestnut son of Art Connoisseur was last of twenty of his last outing over the course in June and having opened at 25/1 on-course he went off a 20/1 chance.
Settled in mid-division by Tom Madden he was ridden from the two furlong pole. He soon got some room on the outer and swept to the front inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a half. Pretty Famous finished second under Fran Berry for Andy Oliver at 14/1 while the well-backed favourite Beechmount Whisper (9/4 to 7/4) was a further length and three parts back in third under Pat Smullen for Patrick Prendergast.
John Hayden said afterwards: "That makes up for Kildare yesterday!
"He was working real well. The last day the ground was very firm and he kind of pulled himself up on it. I was talking to the jockeys and they said it was safe today. Hopefully there is another one in him.
"I don't have too many horses at the moment. I have a couple of two-year-old's and one of them is a nice filly by Holy Roman Emperor who will run in a few weeks."
STEWARDS REPORTS
F.M. Berry, rider of Pretty Famous trained by A. Oliver, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left under pressure.
J.A. Heffernan, rider of Baunaniska trained by Patrick Tallis, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a noise in running.
The Stewards requested a report from J.C.Hayden, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of William Ashford, winner, as compared with its recent form.
The trainer reported that he couldn't account for the apparent improvement in form as it was a big surprise to him, other than to say that he felt his charge never let himself down on the very fast ground the previous time he ran, at Naas on 24th June, a fact that was reported to the Stewards on the day, but since then he has been showing improvement in his work at home.
Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanations offered.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
