Champoleon is driven out by Nina Carberry to beat Like A Demon in second© Photo Healy Racing
Despite drifting in the betting, Champoleon took the concluding four-year-old bumper at Naas, the Go Racing In Kildare (Pro/Am) Flat Race, scoring under Nina Carberry for Noel Meade.
As short as 6/4 in a place this morning, the grey son of Turtle Bowl opened on-course at 9/4, touching 5/2 and 2/1, before going off the 9/4 second favourite.
Settled in mid-division, the Patricia Hunt owned victor took closer order from six furlongs out, and he was fourth entering the straight, as Like A Demon for the Slevin’s, kicked for home.
Pushed along on the outside over two furlongs out, the winner took over in front at the furlong pole, and he was driven out from there to score by two lengths.
Like A Demon ran a fine race to finished second at 16/1, while West Montan was a further length and a half back in third. Sarwistan went off the 5/4 favourite after being backed from his morning price of 10/3, and from 13/8 on-course.
The Tony Martin trained, Shane Shortall ridden ‘jolly’ could only manage a disappointing fifth for owner John Breslin.
Noel Meade said afterwards: "He is a nice horse and we have liked him all along.
"He is a half-brother to Ange Blanc, and unfortunately we couldn’t get him back on to the track but hopefully we will at some stage.
"We also had a full-brother to Ange Blanc and we fancied him (Gold Turtle) for a bumper at Punchestown, but he started gurgling turning in.
"We sent him for an operation then but he died on the day. We have a full-brother to this fellow as well."
"I wouldn’t say there is anything wrong with the yard, my horses are just not firing. Maybe that is as good as Ned Buntline is, but he was disappointing, and Very Wood only started running when the race was over. He did make a mistake at the wrong time and maybe he will make a better chaser."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
