Navan doubles all round

Johnny Murtagh, Tommy Stack and Wayne Lordan all enjoyed a fine afternoon with doubles on the card at Navan.

Murtagh got punters off to a great start as the Ger Lyons-trained 15-8 favourite Watsdachances confirmed the promise of her debut third with a six-length win in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The trainer's brother, Shane Lyons, said: "She's improved no end from her run at Cork and she's a tough filly.

"Johnny was very impressed. He thought beforehand that she could be Listed placed but now he thinks that she could win a Listed race.

"She could go for something like the Marble Hill Stakes now and she had to do it the hard way from the front there. She galloped all the way to the line though."

Murtagh struck later for his boss the Aga Khan and trainer John Oxx as Karatash (100-30) made a fine start to his career in the Dunderry Maiden.

Oxx's representative, Jimmy O'Neill, said: "Johnny said the track woke him up as he's quite lazy and laid-back at home.

"He'll go on better ground and we'll stick at this trip with him."

Following a couple of good runs in defeat, Stack's Atacx made it third time lucky in the Irish Racing Calendar Maiden.

The 9-10 favourite picked up well for Lordan to beat Legal Peace by a length and a quarter, with a yawning gap of 15 lengths back to the remainder.

"He's not a horse that does a whole pile in front at home," said Stack's son and assistant Fozzy.

"He's had three quick runs now so we'll give him a month or so off.

"He should probably get seven furlongs."

Stack and Lordan completed their brace as 9-2 favourite Equity Swap landed the Family Day Handicap.

Fozzy Stack said: "He was a bit unlucky at Dundalk the last day when he got left.

"We were worried about the ground today and he could make a nice three-year-old hurdler for somebody."