Last Encore and Hugh Horgan © Photo Healy Racing
The Joseph O'Brien trained Last Encore stepped up on two promising runs in maiden company when registering a first career success in the opening Navan Racecourse Nursery Handicap.
Pitched straight into handicaps after just the two career starts, the well supported market leader proved to be well treated as he landed the odds under Hugh Horgan.
Supported from 5/1 into 9/4f, the Acclamation colt never gave his backers too much cause for concern, as he got the job done with the minimum of fuss.
Mid division for the first couple of furlongs, as Katie Ross set the pace, Horgan moved closer two furlongs out. Gloriously Glam led briefly a furlong from the finish but was quickly headed by Last Encore.
Carrying the colours of Maxwell Morris, the colt went on to score by one-and-a-half-lengths.
Sean Corby representing Joseph O’Brien said: “He won well and showed a good attitude. He tried hard and it was good to get his head in front.
“I’d say the bit of better ground today suited him well. The last day in Sligo Dylan felt that he got a bit stuck in the soft ground.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
