Cleary lands first winner of new season in Naas

Athlone native Rory Cleary landed his first winner of the new season as the Jim Bolger-trained three-year-old Naisiun came late to take the seven-furlong handicap for three-year-olds, sponsored by Micheál Orlandi’s Starfield Stud, at Naas on Sunday last.

The 20/1 shot looked to have it all to do as the Jessica Harrington-trained Dark Viper went clear early inside the final furlong. But with the Athlone jockey on board, she stuck to her task well and collared the 2/1 favourite close to the finish to win by a length and three-parts.

Meanwhile, for the second year running, Westmeath trainer Adrian Murray saddled the first winner of the Flat season when landing the five-furlong two-year-old maiden at the Curragh on Bank Holiday Monday (March 18).

Bucanero Fuerte, the subsequent winner of the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, won the race a year ago and this time, and this time 7/4 favourite Arizona Blaze did the honours with David Egan in the saddle.

He saw off the challenge of the Noel Meade-trained Rowdy Yeats inside the final furlong and pulled away in the closing stages to win by a length and a quarter in the colours of Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar.

Upcoming fixtures

Wexford – Wednesday, March 27 (first race 2.18pm).

Clonmel – Thursday, March 28 (first race 2.57pm).

Cork – Saturday, March 30 (first race 1.15pm).

Fairyhouse – March 30 (first race 2.10pm).

Fairyhouse – Sunday, March 31 (first race 1.25pm).

Cork – March 31 (first race 1.10pm).

Fairyhouse – Monday, April 1 (first race 2.05pm).

Cork – April 1 (first race 1.48pm).