Last Encore takes centrestage in the Birdcatcher Last Encore followed up a Navan nursery success for owner/breeder Max Morris when landing the €40,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery off an 8lb higher mark at Naas. The Joseph O’Brien-trained colt was never too far from the pace in this six-furlong dash and struck the front over a furlong out under Dylan Browne McMonagle. The well-backed 11/4 (from 4/1) favourite kept on well inside the final 150 yards to beat Smoke Them Out by half a length, with Manhattan Chute a further length and a half away in third. McMonagle said, “He’s a tough little fella who jumps good and travels well. “I was very comfortable to halfway but was a little bit worried that we might be drawn on the wrong side so hence I had to go a bit early. “In fairness he picked up good and was tough the last furlong when he needed to be. “He won a nursery well in Navan and has come forward again. He’s shown a lot of speed and sharpened up with racing. “He stays out the trip well and I think he’ll be more effective on good ground as he has a real low action. “He’s very straight forward and relaxes in his races which is a big help. When you want him to come forward, he has plenty of gears and he tries so it makes my job easy.”
