Fame fights for Navan Glory
Fame And Glory had to work a shade harder than might have been expected when emerging victorious in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.
Despite his 2-9 starting price, Aidan O'Brien's four-time Group One winner needed plenty of encouragement to secure Listed honours for new jockey Jamie Spencer.
Tackling this one-mile-five-furlong trip for the first time, Fame And Glory only got on top of Fictional Account inside the final 500 yards - after which Nebula Storm came with a late rattle under Johnny Murtagh.
O'Brien's entire still held on by a fast-diminishing half a length.
Now running in the colours of Fitri Hay, Fame And Glory follows in the hoofprints of the O'Brien-trained Yeats, who won this race in 2007 and 2008.
O'Brien was, however, perfectly satisfied, and earmarked three possible races for the son of Montjeu.
He said: "I'm happy with that and he'll come on plenty from it.
"There are three races we're looking at for him - the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh over 10 furlongs, the Coronation Cup (at Epsom) over a mile and a half, and the Saval Beg (at Leopardstown) over a mile and three-quarters.
"Depending on which one he goes for it will dictate what his plans are for the year."
Jessica Harrington's Siren's Song (5-1) then hit full throttle in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.
With Ballydoyle pacemaker Spin having set off at a furious gallop, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly slowly cranked up the gears along the outside of the field.
Runner-up Asheerah led passing the one-furlong marker, but Fran Berry's mount picked up pleasingly to win by a length and a half.
O'Brien's Gemstone was disappointing, while Kirinda, the 6-4 favourite, finished third.
Siren's Song was graduating from a humble maiden at Leopardstown, in which she finished second.
Harrington said: Harrington said: "She's entered in the English and Irish Oaks and we'll look for another 10-furlong race for her next.
"She didn't mind the ground but is such a light mover that she'll be better on better ground.
"Fran said she would be even better over a mile and a half."
Positive tactics gained handsome dividends for Chris Hayes when Lechevalier Choisi claimed the opener.
Hayes did a fine job in bustling his partner along towards the head of affairs of the Irish Racing Calendar Maiden, and seldom looked like being overtaken.
The 5-1 shot lengthened his advantage inside the final furlong and had four lengths in reserve over Still Point at the line.
Trainer Jim McCabe said: "He's a good horse and looks a nice sprinter.
"We'll look at a Listed event next, but we'll see what the handicapper does."
Maarek then relished a drop in distance to justify 5-1 favouritism in the Navan Chairman Handicap.
David Nagle's four-year-old was in his element over this five and a half furlongs, having previously been campaigned over a mile at Limerick.
The breaks came at the right time for Wayne Lordan's mount, who glided into the lead approaching the final furlong to score pretty convincingly.
Nagle said: "He did it well and will hopefully improve off that - that's his trip."
Lordan made a swift return to the winner's enclosure when Fire Lily (5-2) recorded a pleasing debut success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The Michael Tabor-owned filly bisected Danziger and An Ghalanta inside the final 50 yards to pocket what looked a pretty informative heat by a length and a quarter.
"She's a grand filly," reported trainer David Wachman.
"Wayne said she ran very green but he was quite impressed with her.
"There should be plenty of improvement."
