Yashin takes Royal County honours The Jessica Harrington trained Yashin kept on best to take the feature at Navan this afternoon, the Royal County Premier Handicap. A comfortable winner on his fourth start at Leopardstown earlier this month, the son of Churchill went eight pounds for that success. Sent off the 4/1 second favourite, he was settled towards rear by Shane Foley, as stable companion Supagirl attempted to make all. The bay victor took closer order approaching the straight and was pushed along on the outer from the three furlong pole. He soon made good progress into second and got to the front over a furlong out, keeping on well from there to score by a length-and-a-half in the colours of Tom & Gerry Met Mickey Syndicate. The fast-finishing Vina Sena (28/1) came from last to take second under Billy Lee for Henry de Bromhead, while Nusret (9/2) was another two-and-three-parts of a length back in third. The aforementioned Supagirl (14/1) ran a brave race alone on the far side rail up the straight, and she finished fourth, while Sun King, who was returned the 11/4 favourite, was sixth. "He's a fine horse, he is much stronger than he was in Leopardstown. He has really come to himself and got strong," Harrington said. "Shane (Foley) said he got there much too soon. He went away again, he was only going through the motions in front. He's probably better over a mile-and-a-half. "I'd be thinking Ascot if he could get into any of the three-year-old handicaps or even the Queen's Vase over 1m 6f. I don't know what he will go up to for that. "He was a bit on his head there today, he had probably never gone as quick in his life! "The other filly ran a blinder (Supagirl), she is improving with running too. She just got a bit lonely on her own." STEWARDS REPORTS * G.M. Ryan, rider of Simply Glorious (USA) trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran short of room about two furlongs from the finish. * D. McMonagle, rider of Nusret (GB) trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got unbalanced and caused a bump about two furlongs from the finish. * The Stewards enquired into an incident about two furlongs from the finish involving Simply Glorious (USA), ridden by G.M. Ryan, Nusret (GB), ridden by D. McMonagle and Vina Sena, ridden by W.J. Lee, where it appeared that Nusret (GB) made an outward manoeuvre and Simply Glorious (USA) checked. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, W.J. Lee stated that he was riding widest of all and maintaining a straight course when he received a bump from his inner. G.M. Ryan stated that his mount had no more to give when Nusret (GB) appeared to spook and his own mount received a bump, ran short of room and had to be checked. D. McMonagle stated that he was upsides Nusret (GB) when his own mount changed leads, got unbalanced and went right causing a bump before he got the chance to straighten his mount. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that any interference caused was accidental in nature and took no further action. . Additional reporting by Michael Graham
