Well-backed Germany lands the opener The well-backed Moon Over Germany got the better of the odds-on favourite Ball D'arc in the opener at Navan, the Kells Maiden Hurdle. The Eddie Harty trained victor finished a good third on his debut over flights at Thurles last month and he was sent off the 9/4 second favourite here having opened at 4/1 last night. Settled behind the leaders the chestnut son of Germany came with his challenge on the outer after the second last. He was pushed along to lead before the last and he stretched clear on the run-in, coming home four and three parts of a length to the good under Davy Russell. Ball D'arc, who was sent off the 4/6 favourite, had to settle for second under Bryan Cooper for Gordon Elliott while Total Silence (66/1) got up to snatch third, a further under twenty-lengths back Phillip Enright for Charles Byrnes. Harty, who trains the successful gelding for Philip Reynolds, said afterwards: "He was entitled to be there or thereabouts on his Thurles run. "He won well but I don't know how good of a race it was. We won't be over ambitious but he'll have to step up now. It won't be this side of the New Year. "The nice thing was that he looked like he wanted it and he's a real terrier of a horse. "He's on the road to try and emulate his three-parts brother (Captain Cee Bee). He's very well related and shows the right attitude so we'll keep our fingers crossed. "He'll probably get further but there is no need to at the moment when we don't have to, especially in that ground." STEWARDS REPORT * M.P. Walsh, rider of Steamboat Quay trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left in running. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
