Boher Road (Scott McCullagh) winning at Navan last year© Photo Healy Racing
Boher Road who ran out over hurdles at Fairyhouse last time, showed a much better side to his character and benefitted from a fine front-running ride by Ronan Whelan to take the concluding 1m5f Navan Handicap.
The Jarlath Fahey-trained gelding built up a six-length lead by halfway and appeared to get a breather early in the straight as that advantage was greatly diminished two furlongs out.
The five-year-old found plenty when asked for an effort by Whelan and kept on strongly inside the final furlong to score by two and a quarter lengths. Eastern Legend took the runner-up spot with Zoffman a further two lengths back in third and Astar completing the places in fourth.
Fahey said, "He sees out 1m5f, he sees out 2m. He has won over 2m1f over hurdles.
"He is a horse that likes to get his own way - he dictates to the jockey instead of the jockey to him. We just play along with him.
"He was running a cracker the last day (in Fairyhouse) until he decided to do what he did. I don't know what got into his head - he has a tendency to jump a bit right, but that was just completely out of character for him.
"He enjoyed that today and it is his second win on the track, so he obviously likes it.
"Ronan said that trip is fine and the way he finished out you wouldn't object to running him over two mile on the Flat either.
"He's a little bit hit or miss, but he is a very good horse."
Quotes by Michael Graham
