Alnofoor off the mark on return to turf The Claire O'Connell trained Alnofoor registered a first career success when staying on strongly under Colin Keane to take the opening Return Of The Flat At Navan Handicap at the County Meath track. An promising fifth over course and distance on his stable debut in October, the David Laverty owned gelding failed to build on that effort in two runs at Dundalk after. Back on grass here, the 9/2 chance travelled strongly under Keane, before coming through to lead over a furlong from home. Strongly pressed by Happy Henry over 200 yards out, Alnofoor stayed on best to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Ukiyo got up for second close home, with Happy Henry dropping to third. Colin Keane said: "He had a good run (fifth) at the back end here last year having been off for so long. "He obviously just didn't handle Dundalk because I thought he would run well for them. He obviously just didn't handle the surface. "He's a big, strong horse and he is well down (in the weights), so hopefully that might give him a bit of confidence." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
