Allied Victory and Neddyvaughan (blinkers) jump the last together© Photo Healy Racing
The well-backed Neddyvaughan justified favouritism in the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap Chase, scoring under Jody McGarvey for Christy Roche and the Beechpark Racing Syndicate.
Available at 13/2 last night, the chestnut six-year-old opened on-course at just 7/2, before going off the 3/1 market leader.
Successful over flights at Thurles in the winter, the son of St Jovite was returning to fences this evening for the first time since November 2015.
Settled towards rear, he improved into mid-division before five out, and was fourth after the third last.
He loomed alongside the leader Allied Victory after two out, and was ridden to the front on the run-in, keeping on best to score by a length and a half.
The aforementioned Allied Victory (7/1) battled on gamely after the final fence, but ultimately had to settle for second under Danny Mullins for John Ryan.
The front two went seventeen lengths clear of Charlotte's Chum who was third under Phillip Enright for Philip Byrne at 5/1.
McGarvey said afterwards: "He is owned by a great bunch of lads who'd all be pals of mine, and it's great to ride a winner for your friends.
"They went hard up front early, I just dropped my lad in and got him nice and settled. It was a very bad race and rode that way, they went quick and then walked for the finish. I went the shortest way around and took my time, he arrived there and done it well.
"He relaxed well and jumped well, and doing them two things in a bad race was enough to get him through.
"I was in no panic to get to the front, it was time enough to get there at the back of the last. He measured the last well and just went about his busy, and did what he had to do."
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
