Sunchart shines once more in Naas feature

Sunchart once again proved his liking for Naas when the mud is flying by winning the TOTE Irish EBF Devoy Stakes for the second year in succession.

Andrew Slattery’s stable stalwart claimed the biggest victory of his career so far in this Listed contest 12 months ago and having since plied his trade not only on the Flat but also over hurdles, the eight-year-old returned for his first competitive appearance since October.

Dallas Star – not seen since picking up an injury in last year’s Derby – took the field along for much of the 10-furlong contest before being joined by 15-8 favourite Trustyourinstinct, but Sunchart (6-1) soon arrived on the outside to throw down his challenge.

The further Slattery’s charge went the more decisive his victory became and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over Enfranchise, who made late gains to beat Trustyourinstinct to the runner-up spot.

Slattery said: “He loves this place and never runs a bad race here. It’s a pity they wouldn’t put on a few more of those races here for me!

“He loves an ease in the ground and it’s great to have a servant like that. It took him a long time to win a race like that and he’s won two Listed races now, one year after another.

“We might go travelling this year, because he’s eight. We might go to Germany or somewhere like that where he’d get soft ground, over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.”

On a potential return to hurdles, the trainer added: “He could do that. Pat (Garvey, owner) is not fond of the hurdles but he could.

“Usually the ground over hurdles would suit him better because it would be watered.”