Star apprentices scoop big pots at Naas
Hayes, in only his second season, is five winners ahead of his arch-rival in the race for the Apprentice Championship and drove Taqseem, trained by his boss Kevin Prendergast, clear in the final furlong to slam Set Fire in the Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery.
“They're both improving, horse and jockey” declared Prendergast. “Gelding Taqseem after he got beaten in Tralee has made a big difference. And dropping him in trip has helped too. We'll see what happens, what the handicapper does with him, before we decide what to do next.”
Earlier, Andramad, ridden by Declan McDonogh, had initiated a double for Prendergast when landing the fillies maiden, booking her place in the line-up for a premier nursery at Leopardstown on November 6.
Taqseem's win pushed Hayes six clear of Cleary in the championship race. But Athlone-born Cleary replied later when Essex battled well to beat Davorin by the narrowest margin in the Paddy Powerr October Handicap.
Off the track since finishing unplaced in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Essex was making his seasonal debut, having been forced to bypass a double bid in the Irish Cesarewitch because of mucous in his lungs.
Trainer Michael O'Brien, who watched the race at home, will now run Essex in the Leopardstown November Handicap before mapping out a hurdle campaign for the five-year-old and making a decision on whether he'll be trained for another crack at the Champion Hurdle or step-up in trip, with the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse a possible early season target.
Aidan O'Brien, out of luck at Newmarket on Saturday, celebrated his 36th birthday by recording a double with The Wild Swan and Queen Titi.
The Master of Ballydoyle was not present to see his second string The Wild Swan make a winning debut under Seamus Heffernan in the opener and stable-jockey Kieren Fallon guide Queen Titi to victory in the listed Ali Retza & Mamadi Soudavar Garnet Stakes.
Noel Meade has his string in tip-top early-season form and added to the double recorded earlier by Mr.Nosie and Ballyagran at Cork when 6/4 favourite Back To Bid scored an impressive seven lengths win in the bumper.
Unsuited by the tight track at Listowel last time, Back To Bid swept to the front turning for home before staying on strongly to beat eye-catching debutant Urban Rebel. Ridden here by 7lb. claimer Jason McKeown, Back To Bid will now go hurdling and looks a potential star.
Trainer Paul Nolan, who confirmed that Accordion Etoile will go straight to Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting next month, saddled Sirius Storm, ridden by Robbie Moran, to score a narrow win over Oran Climate in the Paddy and Ivy Barrett Memorial Handicap Hurdle and predictably survive a Stewards Enquiry.
