Bleu Berry pips Outspoken for Listed honours at Naas

Bleu Berry got up in the shadow of the post to land the Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas.An impressive winner of a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last month, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was the 5-2 joint-favourite for this Listed contest along with Minella Till Dawn.Black Key took the field along for much of the two-mile journey, but dropped away before the home turn, leaving the JP McManus-owned pair of Minella Till Dawn and Outspoken vying for the lead.Bleu Berry loomed up ominously under Paul Townend, but was untidy at the final flight and Outspoken would not go down without a fight.After a ding-dong battle to the line, Bleu Berry claimed victory by a short head.Townend said: "We always thought a lot of him after what he showed at home. He disappointed us last year, but this year he seems to be a different horse."I thought he'd thrown it away at the last, but he's a smart horse and battled and ground it out."If he can smarten up his jumping there's improvement in him, hopefully."