Flynn's well backed sprinter Shines at Naas Well supported in the betting market pre-race, the Pat Flynn trained Surpass And Shine landed a tidy gamble when winning the Danny Trundle Heating & Plumbing Handicap at Naas. Runner-up on two occasions over 7f last year, the four-year-old was dropping back to the minimum trip here for the first time in over 14 months. Well away under Billy Lee, the 9/2jf(from 9/1) made the most of his far side rails draw. Leading on his own side from the outset, he held a definite advantage over Tilly's Company(stands side) when the two groups merged over a furlong out. Asserting to go a couple of lengths clear up the hill, the Exceed And Excel colt just held on late as a trio of runners burst through late to throw down challenges. At the line, Surpass And Shine had a head to spare over Irish Rumour, with My Girl Sioux the same distance back in third. “I was second twice on him over seven and he pulled his way to the front both times and was only collared late on. I said to Pat to drop him back to six but when we did he got no run in the Curragh,” said Billy Lee. “He probably needed the run the last day, and Pat said he just wasn’t happy with his horses but he said he was in good form today. “We were chancing the five but he has plenty of boot and looking at him there this year he’s got stronger. “He just might be a horse that’s going to be sprinting and he’s learning on the job. “I was happy just to let the bit down and leave him. He’s a big horse with a big stride and I just wanted to let him use it. “He kept going well but he does have a look in front and probably gave the others an opportunity to get at him. You’d be hoping there is a bit more to come from him. “He’s going to keep competitive anyway and hopefully he might be just learning to sprint and he’ll keep improving.”
