Keane lands treble at Naas

Naas Racecourse’s eight-race card on Monday afternoon brought a variety of results; we had winning favourites and double-figure odds winners, but the story of the day was a treble of victories for leading jockey, Colin Keane.

Read on for a full report on the Naas card, courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest horse racing odds.

The afternoon’s action began with a six-furlong contest (1.46), in which Colin Keane’s first ride of the day, Bonus Time, jumped out the stalls as favourite at 2/5. From the very beginning, there was little question as to which of the five runners was most likely to win, as the favourite made all, went clear in the final furlong and, despite a reduced lead in the closing stages, won comfortably for trainer Paddy Twomey, delivering the first leg of Keane’s treble.

Up next was a six-furlong handicap of 14 runners (2.16). Colin Keane’s second ride of the day, the Ger Lyons-trained Sparkling Sea, was our favourite at 7/2 in an open–looking race, but she weakened in the final furlong having led, allowing 10 horses to pass her. The prominent-running Mint Man, an 8/1 shot, kept on best of all to nip in front and do enough to win under Leigh Roche, eventually winning by a tidy one and half lengths.

Another six-furlong handicap followed (2.46). There was drama at the start as He’ll Left Loose unseated Alan Casey due to an upset in the stalls, and the rest of the field went away in a loose formation across the track. Into the closing stages the field became more strung out, but Edward Lynam’s Anna Lavinia was being slowly edged into the lead by claiming rider Sorcha Woods, and managed to do just enough to win by three quarters of a length at 5/1, chased home by Von Krolock at 18/1 and Dinamine at 14/1.

Race four was a seven-furlong handicap (3.16). We had joint favourites here in a very open race; Rising Sky and Verhoyen, who both set off at 13/2. The former was short of room at the crucial starting stage, whereas the latter ran a good race but just failed to finish as strongly as the 25/1 shot Spent All Me Money who, under the guidance of rider Shane Foley, progressed into the lead and just managed to hold on long enough to win a nose in front of the the next home; Touted Plan (12/1).

Division two of the same race followed (3.46). This was a similarly open race with the favourite being 11/2 shot Star Mind for Gerard O’Leary. The next closest market competitors were Purring Along, Gordon Bennett and Lovely, all of whom set off at 6/1. The favourite dwelt upon the stalls opening, and had a lot of work to do from the near of the field. Being given seven pounds by claiming rider Nicola Burns appeared to help, though, as the pair ran on well in the final hundred yards to lead in the final strides and cross the line in front.

We had another winning favourite in race six; the mile fillies’ maiden (4.16). Colin Keane rode Noli Timere, who jumped off favourite at 11/4, with the nearest market rival being the 4/1 Perfect Base. the field were well grouped at the front end, with Keane patiently waiting for room aboard the favourite, who proved to have a better kick of speed than the rest and, once daylight came her way, was able to get ahead by three lengths and deliver the second leg of Keane’s treble.

The penultimate race was the feature contest of the day; the Ballyhane Stakes, worth over €100,000 to the winner (4.46). An English raider was our favourite; Paul and Oliver Cole’s Jel Pepper, who was 6/4 at the head of the market. By contrast, the biggest priced runner was Bullet Bourbon at 200/1. It was the Ger Lyons-trained colt Howd’yadoit, though, who eventually surged to the front under Colin Keane, keeping on smartly to win at 13/2 ahead of Unbreakable Duke at 22/1 and Summer Is Tomorrow at 11/1.

Finally, the afternoon concluded with an extended mile and a quarter handicap (5.16). This was another open looking race, with Molto Amichi the favourite at 7/2. Under Ben Coen, 10/1 shot Ob La Di made virtually all and was never overtaken, taking full control from the front and eventually crossing the line nearly three lengths ahead of the next horse home; Some Good Men Gone at 28/1.

Naas results - Monday:

1.46 - Bonus Time (2/5F) 

2.16 - Mint Man (8/1) 

2.46 - Anna Lavinia (5/1) 

3.16 - Spent All Me Money (25/1) 

3.46 - Star Mind (11/2F) 

4.16 - Noli Timere (11/4F) 

4.46 - Howd’yadoit (13/2) 

5.16 - Ob La Di (10/1)