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Donal Murphy
Well-backed Guest takes the Owenstown
Heaven's Guest comes home in front under James Doyle
© Photo Healy Racing
The first of the Listed races at Naas, the Owenstown Stud Stakes, went for export as the Richard Fahey trained Heaven's Guest kept on best to score under James Doyle.
The five-year-old son of Dark Angel finished down the field at Ascot on his last start but had won at Thirsk the time before.
A seven time winner before today he was available at 4/1 last night before being well-supported on-course, opening at 5/2 before going off the 2/1 favourite.
Settled in mid-division he was switched wide to challenge from two furlongs out. He was ridden over a furlong from home and got to the front in the final 100 yards going on from there to win by half a length. Lat Hawill (10/1 from 12's) ran well to finished second under Andrea Atzeni for Ger Lyons while Stay De Night was a further half a length back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 5/1.
James Doyle, who was recording his first winner at Naas, said afterwards: "I was happy with him most of the way.
"The ground was too quick last time in the Victoria Cup but the rain has come for him today.
"Six or seven furlongs suits him as he's a strong travelling horse, although it took him a while to get going today so he's probably best over seven."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee