Michael’s Well delivers for Hartys at Navan

The decision not to run the two-year-old on heavy ground on Tuesday at the Curragh reaped reward

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025 - 18:02

Tommy Lyons

Eddie and Patrick Harty are having by far their best season since working under a joint licence and Michael’s Well added further reason for joy for the father-and-son team by taking Wednesday’s opening race in Navan.

The decision not to run the two-year-old on heavy ground on Tuesday at the Curragh reaped reward as he arrived late on the scene here to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden in good style.

The grey, who had been runner-up over course and distance on debut, stepped up nicely to win this by a cosy half-length, and appeals as one to follow next term.

Ben Coen may not be part of the battle for the jockeys’ championship but he is rapidly closing in on an impressive haul of 70 winners for the season. His latest came aboard Michael Mulvany’s Velvet Skies in the second race. Giving the 7-2 favourite a strong ride, he coaxed his mount home half a length clear of Happy Henry.

According to HRI’s database, Colin Keane started the day eight behind championship leader Dylan Browne McMonagle, and he cut the deficit by one with victory aboard Bad Boy Rizz in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Riding for the excellent Ross O’Sullivan, he sent his mount inside the final furlong for a comfortable success in the colours of Eleanora Kennedy.

There was an exciting finish to the fourth race, a sprint maiden, as Glory To Be got up in the very last stride to collar market leader Lunigiana. Something had to give amongst the consistently placed but luckless maidens and it was Glory To Be, ridden by Wayne Lordan for Michael Grassick who showed the greater resolve close home to snatch victory from a leader who appeared to tie up quite badly in the final strides.

Lordan added a second for a double returning a little more than 31-1 when taking the finale aboard Charlie Brow’n. After a long time in the wilderness, Draiocht gave Thomond O’Mara a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure by winning earlier this month, and this was a nice way to follow up. The 9-1 chance needed all of Lordan’s experience to get up in the final strides for a maiden success, at the 16th time of asking.

There was an 18-1 upset in the last of the five sprints on the card when Dark Ace, having his first run back since being gelded, secured his first win on turf. Trained by Ado McGuinness and ridden by Adam Caffrey, for whom he was a fifth winner for the month, he got on top late in a keenly contested final furlong.

A disappointing effort on his seasonal return at Thurles less than a fortnight earlier made it difficult to side with Dippedinmoonlight in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden but clearly better was expected as he was cut 10 points, to 12-1, on the show. Under a persuasive ride by Gary Carroll, the Emmet Mullins-trained Downpatrick bumper winner got on top late to readily account for gambled-on favourite Lord Byron.