Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Review naas 20th Apr
Review naas 20th Apr
Maarek and Seamie Heffernan
© Photo Healy Racing
< Maarek looks set for another big season after storming away with the Woodland Stakes at Naas on his return to action.
David Nagle's six-year-old, who recorded five victories in 2012 including the British Champions Sprint at Ascot, revelled in the testing conditions for the Listed contest.
Seamie Heffernan tracked early leader Nero Emperor before shooting clear at the furlong pole, after which Maarek (5-2 favourite) had no trouble in holding Scream Blue Murder by a length and a half.
Chris Hayes dictated proceedings in the Naas Racecourse On Facebook Rated Race and Talitha Kum (7-1) responded to his every call to land the prize.
Paul Deegan's filly looked to have plenty on her plate when Fortify ranged up alongside, but the Ballydoyle colt could not get past and was a neck behind at the line.
Hayes completed a double when he kept the Harry Rogers-trained Allegra Tak (7-1) at the head of a trio racing on the far side all the way to beat Theyturnedmedown by a lengths and three-quarters in the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap.
Dermot Weld's filly Pay Day Kitten (7-2), an encouraging second on her only start as a juvenile, stepped up on that to win the Naas Median Auction Maiden under Pat Smullen.
Favourite Hold The Line took it up a quarter of a mile out and pulled clear in company with the eventual winner, who edged in front close home to score by half a length.
Dylan Robinson made a decisive move a quarter of a mile out in the Tipper Road Apprentice Handicap on Jim Bolger's Confident Cub (7-1) and the five-year-old ran on strongly to win by a length and three-quarters.
Damian English's Cash Or Casualty (16-1), three times a winner on the Dundalk all-weather this year, led all the way under Rory Cleary in the Summer Barbeque Evenings Handicap, beating Ondeafears by a length.