Curley Bill returns to give Meade his double

Curley Bill made light of an absence of 692 days to win the mile and a quarter handicap in Naas.

The 10-year-old gelding gave Noel Meade a double on the Flat today as his juvenile Dadoozdart took the opener on debut.

Curley Bill travelled well as he chased down King Christophe past the two pole. He grabbed the lead a furlong and a half down but was soon challenged by Ontheiflist who had made good headway.

The pair fought out the spoils in the final furlong and it was Curley Bill who prevailed by a neck at 11/2. Ontheiflist was a 6/1 chance.

The pair pulled six lengths clear of third-placed and gambled-on St Gallen (9/2 from 7/1).

Jockey Shane Foley said: "He did it well. Noel fancied him and said he'd give me a good ride.

“He said he was fit and had been working well. He's a grand old horse and he was down to a nice mark.

“He'd been off the track for a while but he toughed it out.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson