Captain Midnight and Gearoid Brouder took the spoils for owner Lisa Sheridan © Photo Healy Racing
Joseph Murray's Captain Midnight (16/1) gave jockey Gearoid Brouder a welcome winner in the apprentice handicap at Navan.
The Bushranger gelding wasn't far from the pace in seventh approaching the final quarter of a mile.
He was ridden to unleash his challenge between horses inside the final furlong and edged ahead in the closing stages from Aspen Belle and Sweetest Taboo
The seven-year-old finished the strongest to draw on by three parts of a length in this extended five furlong contest.
Aspen Belle (10/1) took second with Sweetest Taboo in third at 20/1. Pillar at 7/1 completed the placings in fourth.
Gearoid Brouder said: "I didn't know (if I had held on), I just didn't even look up. I kept my head down driving away. I didn't think I'd ever see another winner, it has taken a long time.
"It has been, very , very hard - struggling big time but hopefully that will get the show on the road.
"I'm based with Charles O'Brien, he's very good to me. Anyone that wants me to go and ride work he's more than happy to let me go as long as I get rides out of it.
"Ruaidhri Tierney is looking after my rides and is doing a good job. He did a brilliant job getting me on that one. I'm hoping to get down to (claiming) 5lbs this year but we'll see."
Brouder's last victory came on board Society Ranger at Wolverhampton last June.
He put up his declared possible overweight of 2lbs on the winner - 8st 4lbs.
The Stewards enquired into the riding of Sweetest Taboo, ridden by C.J. MacRedmond, and trained by W. McCreery. Evidence was heard from the rider and trainer concerned. C.J. MacRedmond stated that this was his fourth ride and that his instructions were to jump out handy and get his best possible placing. He was satisfied with his lead in the race, however he did not see other horses coming to him and he misjudged the finishing line. W. McCreery confirmed the instructions given to C.J. MacRedmond. He agreed that C.J. MacRedmond had misjudged the finishing line and could have finished second had he not stopped riding. The Stewards also received a report from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer who stated that Sweetest Taboo was post race normal. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that C.J. Mac Redmond was in breach of Rule 212 A in that he had stopped riding and misjudged the finishing line, missing out on second place as a result. Having considered his clean previous record in this regard and his inexperience, the Stewards suspended C.J. MacRedmond for five race days and ordered him to forfeit his riding fee.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
