The Noel Meade trained Donnas Palm was always going to lead a colourful life, being owned by a coalition of politicians (the Grand Alliance Racing Club) from different parties, and the gelding turned another corner at Navan today when completing five wins from five runs at the venue in the Grade 2 Flyingbolt Novice Chase.

Ridden by Davy Condon, Donnas Palm, whose career in the famous colours has survived bank guarantees, expense scandals and general elections, stayed on strongly from the final fence to foil Foildubh close home.

Afterwards Meade stated “I couldn’t believe the price he was and told the lads to back him. Donnas Palm had been running in very good company but is a little bit of a lad and the blinkers helped.

“The last day at Leopardstown he looked like he had a chance turning in but the next thing he was gone! He probably wants further than two miles and he needed every inch of it there. It was a race he had a chance of winning on ratings and he jumped well.

“I don’t know where I’ll go with him now, he won’t be going to Cheltenham or anything like that. He is rated high enough but wouldn’t be good enough for the Powers Gold Cup either - we’ll look for something a grade below that and he’ll get 2m4f.”