O'Brien's Junkyard proves top Dog at Navan Strongly supported in the market, the Joseph O'Brien trained Junkyard Dog ran out a game winner of the concluding Bective Restaurant Handicap at Navan. Available at 11/1 overnight, the Fastnet Rock gelding was backed down to 5/1f before the off of this three-year-old only handicap. Held up towards rear under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the O'Brien trained runner was being pushed along on the outside of the field over three furlongs from the finish. However, once meeting the rising ground and faced with a test of stamina, he began to make steady headway from over two furlongs out. Pushed along to head stablemate Palmezzano at the furlong pole, the market leader kept on strongly to score by half-a-length. Dylan Browne McMonagle said: "He's a horse that is learning on the job. It is good to get him back on the grass today. "There was plenty of speed early and it set up good for us. I was able to get a nice, smooth run down the outside. He had a good look, I got there plenty early on him, but he was tough. "It (good ground) didn't do him any harm at all. "His last run he got a bit impeded off the bend, a few crossed over in front of him and he got hampered. I thought he did well off the back of that. "He ran a nice race in Naas last year when I rode him and he has always showed plenty of promise. Definitely up in trip today was a big help." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
