Enterprising tactics pay off on Star Harbour at Navan

Star Harbour and Chris Hayes win for trainer Ado McGuinness with groom Adam Caffrey at Navan. Picture: Healy racing

Enterprising tactics adopted by Chris Hayes on board the Ado McGuinness-trained 22/1 shot Star Harbour paid off in style in the featured, €40,000 Royal County handicap in Navan.

Soon in front, the gelded son of Sea The Stars dictated the pace and stayed on dourly to beat Bear Story by more than three lengths, prompting McGuinness to explain, “He’s: a horse with a lot of ability, but wasn’t showing it, so we gelded him. We were a few pounds out of the handicap today, but it was worth a shot.”