Palace Rock regains the winning thread for Casey Palace Rock, runner-up in a valuable 2m4f handicap at Navan last month, went one better when dropped down in trip to take the Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle for Francis Casey and Denis O’Regan. The well-backed 7/2 chance, successful twice early last year on the Flat at Dundalk and a maiden hurdle at Navan, was never far from the pace and asserted to go four lengths clear between the final two flights. However, a mistake at the last gave supporters some concern and he needed to be driven right out by O'Regan to hold on by a diminishing half-a-length from Take All. Cafe Con Leche was just a length further back in third with top-weight Goulane Chosen completing the places in fourth. Casey said, "On another day he might have won the last day and to win is great. I didn't know if he'd go on the heavy ground but it wasn't as heavy and was tacky, although his mother wanted it bottomless. "I thought the world of this horse and always thought he was my best horse but the other horse (Max Flamingo) seems to be better. He had been frustrating but works very well and has shown it now. "He doesn't go right-handed and even today he needed a rail. He could come back here or otherwise go to Aintree." (TW & AM)
