Buffalo Blues is pushed out by Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons trained Buffalo Blues got off the mark on his ninth start, as he took the opener at Navan, the Barbecue Evening Claiming Race.
Not beaten far on a couple of occasions in the past, the son of Harbour Watch was sent off at 10/3 this evening under Colin Keane.
Settled in second, he improved to dispute the lead early in the straight, and was pushed to the front over two furlongs out.
He was ridden from over a furlong out, and kept on well from there to score by three parts of a length for owner Sean Jones. Discovery Lad who was sent off the 5/2 favourite, couldn't reel-in the winner inside the final furlong, and he had to settle for second under Connor King for Johnny Murtagh. Future Frontier stumbled and unseated Andrew Breslin a furlong from home, but thankfully Breslin walked away from the incident unharmed.
"It's quick ground out there. We knew he'd like good ground but that's as quick as he'd like it,," said assistant trainer Shane Lyons.
"He's still a bit of a baby and when he hit the front he started wandering. He just looked about but Colin said when Johnny's horse came to him he kicked on again.
"That should give him the world of confidence. We thought he'd win his maiden but we thought this race would suit him. Hopefully we still have him and he can go on from there."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages involving Buffalo Blues (GB), ridden by C.T. Keane, placed first and Future Frontier, ridden by A.J. Breslin, faller, where it appeared interference may have occured. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found C.T. Keane to be in breach of Rule 214 in that he rode carelessly. Having considered his very good record in this regard, the Stewards suspended C.T. Keane for one raceday.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
