CREPELLO - Premier County trainers on song at Naas

Naas is historically known as the punter’s graveyard, however, those following premier county handlers would have ended up on very good terms with themselves on Saturday as four of the seven winners were trained here.

And if one adds Joseph O'Brien who although domiciled across the border in Black and Amber territory regards himself as very much a Tipp man the tally would reach five.

Although in the autumn of his training career Michael Browne has enjoyed his biggest victories this term through the exploits of Logo Hunter, and he set the ball rolling when he saddled The Cola Kid to land the six-furlong apprentice 45-65 handicap in a tight finish with Dragons Call and Pretty Smart.

Although slowly away the Lethal Force gelding responded well the urgings of his young rider Nathan Cross as he weaved his way through the field to lead in the final strides and defeat Dragons Call by a neck with Pretty Smart just a nose further back in third place.

This was a fine piece of riding by Cahir born Cross, who is a brother to Shane Cross, one of the up-and-coming young riders to have emerged in recent seasons and on this evidence young Nathan is also on course to carve out a successful career in this most competitive of sports.

Next in the bat was Donnacha O'Brien who captured the seven furlong two-year-old maiden courtesy of Unconquerable.

Making his fourth racecourse appearance, the Churchill colt was strongly supported on the strength of two good efforts in defeat and he did not disappoint as he was always close to the pace before leading inside the furlong marker and winning snugly by a length from the gambled on I Am Magic.

In his post-race remarks, Donnacha O’Brien made no secret of his admiration for the winner who is only beginning to get the hang of things and will be better when stepped up in trip.

A 210,000-yearling purchase, Unconquerable has a strong staying pedigree although his dam failed to win. She is a half-sister to the Derby and Dante winner North Light so it's safe to assume that he will be a better three-year-old than a juvenile and as O'Brien said he is a lovely horse going forward.

Fozzy Stack kept up his good strike-rate when taking the seven-furlong conditions race for three-year-olds with the Night of Thunder colt Storm Legend.

Although a market drifter, Storm Legend made a mockery of this lack of confidence as he arrived with a wet sail nearing the furlong pole and just about did enough to defeat the better fancied Ger Lyons runner Acanella by a head.

In his post-race debrief, Stack revealed that his charge, who was a juvenile at the venue, will now head to Goodwood en-route to Hong Kong where he will continue his career.

One can never discount the combination of Denis Hogan and Joe Doyle as they showed yet again when landing the mile and two 54-78 handicap with Prince Of Verona.

A seven-race maiden coming into the contest, the son of American Pharoah was never too far out of his ground before showing plenty of resolve to defeat Zola Sakura by three parts of a length. A protracted stewards inquiry followed as Prince Of Verona appeared to come off a straight line in the closing stages but in the end justice was done as there was no alteration to the placings.

Joey Sheridan continues to impress and once again displayed his considerable talents when joining forces with Ken Condon to land the six-furlong 66-83 handicap aboard Affable.

A Roscommon winner for the same connections earlier in the week, the four-year-old was inclined to be free early on. Affable was soon settled by Sheridan before delivering her challenge heading to the final furlong and running all the way to the line where she had three-parts of a length to spare from Mistero.

Previously under the care of Ralph Beckett across the water, the winner was purchased for 6,000 guineas at Newmarket Sales last December. She took her time to open her Irish account but looks very much on the upgrade at the present time and is handicapped to score again.

Condon is now based at Osborne Lodge on the Curragh which was previously occupied by the late Dessie Hughes. He is married to Pauline Ryan from Bansha, who herself was a gifted horsewoman and rode many winners mainly for John Oxx.

Racing opened with a victory for Joseph O'Brien when he landed the six-furlong conditions race for juveniles with Hadman.

A narrow winner at Gowran Park on his previous outing, Hadman was strong in the betting market and the confidence was not misplaced as he made every yard of the running and found plenty when it was needed to hit the wire three-parts of a length ahead of Geocentric.

O’Brien has nothing in particular in mind for his charge but will have a look at the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh or the Ballyhane Stakes at the same venue could also come into the reckoning.

Bellewstown staged the first of the summer racing festivals with a three-day offering last week and Denis Hogan marked the occasion by saddling Adapt To Dan to take the extended seven-furlong handicap under another polished Joey Sheridan ride.

Making every post a winning one, the five-year-old got the better of a protracted battle with Tipperary Moon by half a length.

Leading jockey Colin Keane teamed up with his father Gerry to land the first division of the mile and six handicap with the twelve-race maiden Franno, who has kept paying the bills with a string of placed efforts, so she was not winning out of turn.

Settled on the tail of the leaders the daughter of Free Eagle took over to furlongs from home and battled well to see off the challenge of Broken Ice by half a length.