Ned Buntline clears the last for Paul Carberry © Photo Healy Racing
Ned Buntline has always been held in high regard by Noel Meade, and he went some way towards repaying that faith by landing the 2m1f beginners chase.
The five-year-old gelding, who was inclined to jump a bit left when third to Ballycasey on his chasing debut here last month, was sent off the 11/8 favourite and put in a fine round of jumping landing in front two out.
However Paul Carberry, completing a double here with Meade after the earlier success of Festive Felon in the maiden hurdle, needed to drive the winner right out on the run-in to hold Irish Thistle by two lengths. Cadspeed was another three lengths back in third, while Moscow Mannon could find no extra approaching the last to finish in fourth.
Meade said, “That was better as he relaxed and jumped very well. He just got a bit tired after the last. The trouble is he’s been doing a lot of schooling and we haven’t been doing as much work with him. He’s schooling a lot better, and he was a bit fresh the last day.
“I’m not sure where he’ll go next but there is a race for him at Naas in January. I’m not worried about soft ground for him but would be a bit worried about quick going as he hits the ground fairly hard. JP was keen to go straight over fences with him even though he’s only five.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
