French Claim makes winning return at Navan

The Paddy Twomey-trained four-year-old beat Taipan by seven and a half lengths

BACK WITH A BANG: French Claim eases to victory in the hands of  Billy Lee. Picture: Healy Racing

Third in last year’s Irish Derby, French Claim made an impressive return to action when landing the Navan Racecourse Race at the Meath venue.

Sent off at 4-9 (in the absence of Okita Soushi), Billy Lee’s mount tracked front-running Oriental Eagle until taking over a half-mile from home and, with his rivals toiling early in the straight, he galloped on resolutely to beat Taipan by seven and a half lengths.