Derby winner McNamara off the mark for the season with Gulf Of Mexico

Saturday: Killarney

Gulf Of Mexico was halved in price to 25-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power for the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster later this month after landing the opening mile maiden.

It was a first win at the third time of asking for the Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile, who was steered to victory by Derby-winning rider Emmet McNamara, who was also getting off the mark for the season.

McNamara, who won the 2020 Derby on Serpentine and has been doing punditry on RTE during the summer, celebrated his last winner almost a year ago when Allihies won at Limerick.

Gulf Of Mexico, who is a 50-1 shot for next year's Derby, was an expensive failure at 4-9 in a Punchestown maiden last month, but is learning his craft with every start and stayed on powerfully to beat the two joint-favourites Sea Legend and Deakin.

Davison warms up for Abbaye with Hotter

Jack Davison warmed up for Mooniesta's Abbaye bid in the best possible fashion by sending out Hotter Than Hades to win the 1m3f maiden for fillies and mares.

Hotter Than Hades was pitched into Listed company earlier this season when second to Cairde Go Deo in the Yeats Stakes at Navan, and she put a very tame effort at Galway behind her by upsetting the odds-on favourite Star Kissed by a head under Ronan Whelan.

Whelan completed a 55-1 double on the card thanks to victory aboard the Michael Halford-trained Cosmic Vega in the mile handicap.

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