The concluding Go Racing In Kildare Bumper at Naas today went to the Noel Meade trained newcomer Willie John under Nina Carberry.

The son of Monashee Mountain outbattled 5/4 favourite Tusa Eire inside the final furlong for a neck win.

Afterwards Meade stated “I was a bit worried that Willie John got held up in his work by the bad weather and when I brought him to work at Dundalk before Christmas he blew up. I got another piece of work into him since Christmas and he loves soft ground. He had been ready to run a while back but I pulled him out as the ground was too quick.”

Thomas Weekes