Sevi makes listed breakthrough

WINNER of the valuable October handicap at Naas last month, Celebrity Sevi made his listed-race breakthrough when battling tenaciously to thwart Priomhbhean and Super Say the Carlingford Stakes at Dundalk last night.

The progressive three-year-old gelding provided Pat Smullen with a big-race success just five days after relinquishing the Jockeys Championship title to arch-rival Johnny Murtagh. He commented: “He needed the strong pace, because he’s better over a mile and a half. But he showed a great attitude out there and is improving all the time.”

The David Wachman trained Hot Bed (Seamus Heffernan) made it third time lucky when proving a shock winner of the two-year-old maiden, prompting his trainer to comment, by phone: “He’s a smart colt and is still learning. He should make a nice three-year-old.”