Patrick Sarsfield and Declan McDonogh win the Nasrullah Handicap from Pesto and Kiss For A Jewel (left)© Photo Healy Racing
5/4 favourite Patrick Sarsfield overcame a steep hike in the ratings for his Leopardstown win when taking the very valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nasrullah Handicap at Navan.
Declan McDonogh ’s travelled well to hit the front around two furlongs from home, but inside the final furlong it looked like he might be overhauled by Kiss For A Jewel flying home down the outside.
The favourite found a bit more, though, to win by three quarters of a length from Pesto with Kiss For A Jewel just flattening out in the final 100 yards to finish another head away in third.
A very promising two-year-old for Eddie Lynam, the Australia colt cantered home in a Curragh maiden last autumn having joined Joseph O’Brien, before winning by five lengths having been very well backed in his first handicap at Leopardstown last month.
Raised 15lbs for that win, this was a fine effort and Stakes races can’t be too far away for the successful four-year-old.
Brendan Powell, assistant to the winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, said: "Declan said he was quite keen today, that a horse just sat on his backside the whole way and he was nearly too keen early.
“He said he got into a rhythm and he just kept filling him up. He said he picked up nicely and he's galloped the whole way to the line today.
“He had to work today but it was a very competitive race and it was good money (50k to the winner).
“That's only the sixth race of his life and he's a big horse so hopefully he'll keep improving.
“I not sure where Joseph will go with him but hopefully he'll end up getting black-type somewhere.
“He's won a nice pot so it's good for the owners.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
