Team Of Firsts, yellow and green, justifies favouritism in Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons' Team Of Firsts enjoyed the step up to 10 furlongs with a stout staying effort in Navan.
He had shown plenty of promise in backend maidens over a mile when fourth at this track and second in Naas, which saw him go off the 7/4 market leader.
The Zoffany colt moved threateningly into contention racing past the three pole and went on with Play The Crowd coming to the final furlong.
Play The Crowd held a narrow lead at the furlong marker in his bid to serve up a massive shock but Team Of Firsts got the better of him in the final 150 yards and strode right away as his stamina kicked in.
The 'jolly' took the honours by three and a quarter lengths from the 125/1 runner-up. Kailash was a length and a quarter further back in third at 5/2.
Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with that. He has a big frame and just needed to fill into it from last year. Sometimes when you get beat in maidens as a two-year-old it’s grand because you have something to aim at early doors here.
“He’s a Zoffany that goes on that ground. We are going to be taking baby steps with him and we would have been disappointed if he wasn’t fighting it out at the finish even though it wasn’t a gimme with an 87-rated horse in the race.
“We liked the way he did. Colin (Keane) said he took a big blow turning into the straight and he took a blow pulling up so he will improve for it.
“No horse needs it that soft but he is a Zoffany that you wouldn’t be afraid to go on it. He’s a good mover for the size of him. He wouldn’t be running on proper fast ground but he doesn’t need it that soft.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
