Navan trainer Noel Meade introduced a winning newcomer in the shape of Allez La Classe in the Four Mile House Maiden over seven furlongs to initiate a 76-1 double at Roscommon last evening.
Carrying the Show Me The Money colours of Liam Queally, the home-bred daughter of Mujadil forged her way through a narrow gap after the furlong pole under John Murtagh to defeat the dead-heated pair, Cheal Rose and Lady Of Kildare with disappointing market leader Marseille Express only fourth.
'I've always liked her since she arrived and she has shown plenty of speed. She got a bit of a knock on her front and we rested her for a month or so but she has been back for over six weeks. I'd say she might prefer little ease and Johnny said she got away with that ground there,' said Meade.
The Navan handler was nearly lost for words after the twelve furlong handicap when Murtagh again teamed up to collect the winners purse aboard 10-1 chance Snow Dragon.
'I was nearly going to pull him out coming down in the car as I was very worried about the ground after talking to the lads who had walked the course. Johnny said he loved it but I always thought he was a soft ground horse, so there you are,' said the Navan handler.
On future plans for Snow Dragon, Meade added,' It's Galway next for him but I don't know for what, while Cockney Lad (5th) will head for the Plate.'
Favourite backers got off to a flyer when Carina Bay set the ball rolling in the opening maiden hurdle, providing Wexford rider John Cullen with his fourth professional victory, while top-weight Act Of Defiance stayed on under a perfectly timed run under David Casey to land the spoils in the following two mile handicap hurdle.
Colombus, after drifting out to 5-1 attracted plenty of support before the off of the Ballybeg Maiden to start a 7-2 chance and the market support proved accurate as the blinkered Aidan O'Brien Sadler's Wells colt landed the spoils under Colm O'Donoghue.
