Review NAVAN 17-JUN-2000

Aidan O'Brien and Mick Kinane warmed up for a busy week at Royal Ascot this week when they combined to complete a short-priced double at Navan via newcomer Joplin and Plato on Saturday.

The Ballydoyle conveyor belt introduced another winning juvenile in the shape of the American-bred Nureyev colt, Joplin but supporters of the 2-5 shot had to sweat before collecting on the Ballydoyle newcomer.

Mick Kinane's mount was boxed in behind Mambo Jumbo and America Calling with nowhere to go entering the final furlong but the former champion didn't panic and switched his mount to the outer before he unleashed a turn of foot that settled the issue in the dying strides.

The Stewards enquired into the closing stages as Tender Cove which finished fourth was slightly impeded when Kinane made his winning move but they made no alteration to the judges placing.

Kinane was seen at his brilliant best for the second leg of the brace, the Coolmore Sri Pekan Race over a mile, when he kept Plato up to his task up front to hold the effort of Shibl and Stephen Craine by a head.

Champion jumps jockey Barry Geraghty teamed up with Jessica Harrington's Windy Spirit to easily win the maiden hurdle, justifying favouritism at 7-2 in the process, while 25-1 shot Quality First and Tom Treacy sprang a surprise in the handicap hurdle when defeating Dual Star.

This twenty-four runner field was reduced at the half-way stage when there was a five horse pile-up sparked off when 14-1 shot Fairy House crashed out. Sadly for connections of Cheeky Harry, the incident proved costly when Gerry Keane's gelding broke a leg and had to be humanely destroyed.

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