Bel Ami De Sivola jumps the last under Sean Flanagan© Photo Healy Racing
Bel Ami De Sivola was produced before the last by Sean Flanagan to go on and take the valuable Grade B novice handicap chase at Fairyhouse.
The Network gelding picked up the lead coming to the final fence and was kept up to his work at the end of an extended two miles to prevail by a length and a half at 7/1. Bon Papa (3/1) kept on in second without getting to the winner while in-form Crosshue Boy finished third at 20/1, beaten two lengths by the victor.
Noel Meade said: “I really fancied him, and I told Eddie (O’Leary) before the race we were going to change tactics and hold him up today. He wasn’t too impressed about that plan but he said to me after the race that’s why you are the trainer!
“He’s a nice horse and will be a better horse on better ground. Hopefully he’ll go to Punchestown for something and he might get better ground there.
“He worked very well the other day and I was very happy with him. He handled the ground well enough today.”
Sean Flanagan, in the Gigginstown colours, added: "He just ran a bit with the choke out the last day in Leopardstown. He does want the ground that he had that day, he does want nicer ground.
"It was a little bit dead for him here today but we just got him to switch off a little bit. I think it was key to him, he's run a lovely race.
"He's a really nice horse. He's just taken a bit of time to get to himself. I think dropping him in a bit helped, it just got him switched off."
Bel Ami De Sivola picked up €29,500 for his efforts today.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
