THE market spoke loudly in favour of Unexpected Issues in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at Navan on Wednesday and she duly obliged on debut for Fozzy Stack.

Having traded as a big 8/1 in the morning, the Starspangledbanner filly went to post the 2/1 favourite in the five-furlong contest.

Seamus Heffernan tracked the leaders on his mount before leading a furlong from home and recording a half-length win over Ballydoyle filly Heavens Gate.The winner is a full-sister to listed and Group 3 winner Castle Star and Stack said of his charge:-

“She’s going to be an early two-year-old. I suppose we’ll run maybe once more and think about something in Ascot for her. She was a little bit green, a little bit slow away and then ran around a bit. She should come forward for that. She’s only worked once on grass so she should improve. Her brother (Castle Star) was a very good horse, he got beaten first time out so she’s done better than him!”

Lee at the double

Billy Lee struck twice on the card, first teaming up with Paddy Twomey to score aboard Air Force One in the five-furlong maiden. The Bond Thoroughbred-owned colt made virtually all and the 13/8 favourite held the late challenge of Ojw Legacy to record a hard-fought head success.

“He’s a horse that joined us last year and he’s gotten stronger since he came. He’s been showing a bit of pace and it looked like a nice place to start,” said Twomey. “I think he’s a five-furlong sprinter. He was tough there and we’ll see what the handicapper does. Hopefully we’ll have a bit of fun with him for the summer.”

Lee completed his brace later on the card when the Willie McCreery-trained Concluding Call turned over hotpot Uncanny in the mile fillies’ maiden. The 11/4 shot chased down the 4/11 favourite inside the final furlong to record a length-and-a-half success.

“I’m delighted with that, she’s a lovely big filly,” said McCreery. “I just told Billy to follow the favourite and get her to relax, if we could have one go at her and try and rob it on her. That’s what we did, but in fairness she went away at the line. She tried hard and she’s very honest. Francois (Garavaglia-Drion) is a breeder so we’ll try and do something blacktype wise for her.”

COLIN Keane ploughed his own furrow on Branding in the Arkle Bar Handicap and his decision to stay stand’s side reaped rewards in the five-furlong sprint. Michael O’Callaghan’s charge was soon the overall leader and the 12/1 shot quickened clear in the final furlong for a cosy three-and-a-half length success.

“I thought when I was walking it earlier it was much the same the whole way across,” said Keane.

“To be honest he’s been disappointing, I thought he would have won a maiden for us last year but maybe he was just a bit immature and weak. He’s a good lump of a horse.

“We weren’t really sure what his trip was but Michael was adamant he had enough speed for five. He put the blinkers on so we kept it very straightforward.”

In the other sprint handicap on the card Nouvel Espoir made his second start in handicap company a winning one. It turned into a three-way battle in the closing stages with Jimmy Barcoe’s charge getting on top late on to secure a neck success over Cuban Grey, with Havana Notion a half length behind.

“Dylan (Browne McMonagle) gave him a brilliant ride and he came on nicely from the first day,” said Barcoe of the 10/3 winner. He’s a lovely horse and hopefully he can keep going forward. That was only his fifth run and he learnt a lot from the last day.”

Sanibel sticks her neck out

Bay Of Sanibel showed a terrific attitude to land the Cusack Hotel Group Handicap under a strong drive from Shane Foley. The Jessica Harrington-trained filly took a narrow lead two furlongs from home in the mile-six contest but was soon joined by Zoffman and then Minella Mate. The 2/1 favourite had to dig deep in the closing stages to record a half length win over the latter.

Kate Harrington said: “She really ground it out there and I think the cheekpieces helped her, not because she’s not trying but it just makes her concentrate a little bit more.

“It would be lovely if she would just keep stepping forward and we might try and find another handicap before we go into listed or group company.

“I do think she will end up that (class) in the autumn time.”

PATIENCE paid off with Cleopatra’s Needle in the first division of the ten furlong handicap as the Harry Rogers-trained filly ran out a cosy winner. The 12/1 shot travelled smoothly to press the leaders at the two pole and went on over a furlong out to record a cosy two-and-three-quarter length win under Chris Hayes.

“She always promised plenty and had a few good runs but she’d just had health problems and it took a long time to sort them out,” said Rogers.

“We actually sent her to the sales but we weren’t getting enough for her and the boys (Nap Racing Syndicate) said they’d hold on to her and try her again. She actually loves top of the ground and she’s going jumping, she has schooled over hurdles. Robbie Power had her for a while and said she had plenty of scope.”

In the second division of the contest Ben Coen delivered Master Dunraven with a well-timed challenge to prevail in the closing stages. The Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding got a nice run up the inner to beat Jawhary by three-quarters of a length at odds of 6/1. Coen, in the colours of owner Bryan Murphy, said: “He was good. We thought he’d win off his mark last year and we were a little bit disappointed with him.

“We rode him quiet today and it paid off, he came through them well.”