Namid earned a crack at the Prix de l`Abbaye on Arc day when completing his hat-trick for the John Oxx stable in the Tote Account Flying Five at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Confidently ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Lady Clague`s home-bred colt denied Eric Alston`s Tedburrow a third successive victory in the Group Three sprint by a head as the favourite Watching faded into fifth.
'The Prix de l`Abbaye is his target now. He has a great cruising speed, but the ground here was as fast as he would want it,' said Oxx.
Namid had a chip removed from a knee after a similar success over six furlongs at the Curragh at the end of May and Oxx was very happy to get the horse back to the track so soon.
'Tedburrow tried hid heart out and Ted Durcan said he got upsides the winner but couldn`t quite manage to win it again,' said Alston, who now plans a crack at Ascot`s Diadem Stakes.
King Charlemagne, runner-up Ghayth on his debut at York made on mistake when heavily-punted from 1-5 to 1-7 in the opening Beechwood Maiden.
'He is still green, but has plenty of pace and wants a lead. Hew could end up going for the Dewhurst Stakes,' said Aidan O`Brien, who expressed himself happy with the Leopardstown going.
'I walked the round course last evening and it is beautiful ground which should suit all horses. It is a little faster that that on the sprit track,' said O`Brien. - PA
