Review NAVAN 1ST MAY

Fran Berry and John Oxx continued their good form this Flat season when teaming up to land the featured Vintage Crop Stakes with Icklingham.

The Sadler's Wells gelding was completing a hat-trick this year, heading Solerina over two furlongs out and driven right out to beat Swiss Roll by 6L with the Bowe's mare just a short-head back in third.

'He's very adaptable distance wise from 12f to 2m but won't let himself down on fast ground. The Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown (May 25) is the obvious race for him,' said Oxx.

Berry brought his tally for the year to 12 by doubling up half-an-hour later aboard Rathgowney Lad in the Ladbrokes-sponsored mile handicap.

The Pat Martin-trained gelding made rapid headway through the field to lead early in the straight, and was ridden out in the closing stages to hold on by 2L from Cupid's Bow.

Berry was fancied to score again in division one of the mile maiden on Oxx's Lady Singspiel but the 11/10 fav was unable to peg back Hard Rock City.

Michael Grassick's newcomer cruised to the front two furlongs out under Niall McCullagh but then tired in the testing ground and held on by 1/2L as the pair drew 20L clear of the rest.

McCullagh also recorded a double on the afternoon as he followed up in division two of the mile maiden on the John Shearman-trained Ardenteggle Lad.

The four-year-old gelding shot clear well over a furlong out, and was ridden out to beat the staying on Shayrazan by two and a half lengths.

Last year's champion apprentice Cathy Gannon belatedly opened her account for the season when Advance Guard justified favouritism in division one of the 10f handicap.

Gannon's mount veered left inside the final furlong before going on to beat Rince Donn by 2 1/2L, and the Dubliner was later cautioned for careless riding and her use of the whip.

Declan Gillespie continued his good run this season when Wild Wood proved another winning favourite in division two of the 10f handicap.

Padraig Beggy produced the filly between horses to lead a furlong out, and the combination stayed on well to beat Craughwell Suas by three lengths.

Alan Magee