Excuzio Joe relishes soft surface to land handicap feature for Smith and Roche

A return to soft ground for the first time in nearly a year brought out the best in gutsy four-year-old filly Excuzio Joe as she doubled her career tally in the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies and Mares Handicap for local trainer Matthew Smith.

Partnered to victory by Leigh Roche, the lightly raced 11-2 co-favourite fired a warning shot when third at the Listowel harvest festival last month, going two places better as she edged out one of the other market leaders in Coill Na Sionainne.

"The bit of rain was a big help to her," said Smith after success in the €20,000 event. "She loves an ease in the ground and the drop back to a mile on a stiff track like Navan seemed to suit too."

He added of the Gordon Cranston-owned winner: "She's a hardy, honest filly and that's often half the battle. I'm delighted for her owner who has been very patient."

Sounds on song

Ken Condon delivered a fine training performance to see bottom-weight Sounds Of Spring strike in the 5½f handicap under Niall McCullagh for owner Robert Ng.

Making his first start since finishing midfield in a Tipperary sprint 127 days earlier, the 70-rated performer handled conditions well to score at 13-2.

Sounds Of Spring put up a smart performance when winning at Navan on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was the stable's third winner of the week after a double at Tipperary on Monday.

Keane out of luck

Colin Keane was forced to wait in his bid to break Joseph O'Brien's record of 126 winners in a Flat season after failing to score on his six rides. Still on 125, he heads to Thurles for four rides on Thursday.

Results, replays and analysis

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