Sent off 15-2 outsider of the six runners, the Paul Flynn-trained mare Little Queenie took the featured Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets Handicap, over just short of six furlongs, in Navan.

An 18th winner of the season for apprentice Robert Whearty, the six-year-old grey, notching her seventh success, got the better of Nezeeh by a half-length, prompting her enthusiastic trainer to acknowledge: “She goes on that ground, but it blunts her speed, so I was a bit worried.

“She was unlucky here early in the year and I’d say coming up the stands side helped. There’s a five-furlong handicap here next week or she could wait for Dundalk. We’ll try to get some black type for her and she’ll probably be put in foal next year.” 

Whearty was denied a double in the finale when 5-2 favourite Arcland was pipped by 38-rated Share The Treasure (33-1), a welcome winner for trainer Tom Hogan.

Rerouted from an intended trip to Ffos Las, Colin Keane seized his opportunity on the Ger Lyons-trained Amiata, who swept past favourite Namiid to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden.

“He should have done that before now,” stated Lyons. “He ran well first time and I thought he’d do that next time, but didn’t, so we gelded him. We ran him back in the Ballyhane race and, last time, tried blinkers, but he did far too much.

“This was far more like him. He’s a fun horse for his owners and we’ll keep going with him.” 

Keane’s great rival in his defence of the title, Dylan Browne McMonagle replied with a double which leaves him 70-67 ahead of the six-time champion.

The Donegal man was successful when Michael O’Callaghan’s Noli Timere, winner of her maiden in Naas recently, stepped up to land the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle Handicap on her handicap debut, stretching clear to beat Neo Smart.

“She’s improving with racing and loves to get her toe in,” said O’Callaghan. “She’s nicely progressive and will be an even nicer filly next year. We might look at the autumn fillies handicap and then have a go at the Denny Cordell with her, hoping to get black type before the end of the season.” 

And the rider followed-up when Enziya, ill at ease around Tramore last time, justified 7-2 favouritism for Ballygallon Stud and Ray Cody in the Kilberry Handicap.

“He was out of his comfort-zone in Tramore, but travelled much better today,” said Cody. “Dylan says he’ll have no problem going two miles. He’s wicked lazy, but should make a grand hurdler — that’s my plan.” 

Out of luck with Namiid, Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen had struck earlier with Nakamura, in first-time blinkers, in the Navan Racecourse Nursery.

The 4-1 favourite raced prominently before being driven out to beat Monte Vista by two lengths, prompting Coen to comment: “The drop in trip and blinkers helped. He bumped into an improver the last day. He’s tough and hardy and improving with racing and appreciates juice in the ground.” 

Following the convincing victory of Goffs Million entry My Corbett Court (7-1) in the optional claiming maiden, trainer Paddy Twomey explained: “It’s a good day for his owners (Declan and Anna Corbett) — they had a grandchild this morning and now a winner.”