Constancio shows his true worth in the last Constancio left some disappointing efforts from last year well-behind him, as he took the last at Navan this evening, the Meath Maiden. A good third on debut in 2016, the Jim Bolger trained gelding had a season to forget in 2017, running out when leading two furlongs out on his penultimate start at Leopardstown. Having opened on-course at 7/1 this evening, the son of Authorized came in for plenty of market support, eventually going off a 9/2 chance under Kevin Manning. Settled in third, the four-year-old victor got to the front under two furlongs out, and kept on well inside the final furlong, going on to score by two and three parts of a length. The 6/4 favourite Days Without End finished second under Declan McDonogh for Dermot Weld, while Roseriver Has was another four and a half lengths back in fourth for Colin Keane and Noel Meade at 8/1. Ger Flynn, Bolger's travelling head lad, said afterwards: "He's been threatening to do that. "It was hands and heels from Kevin at the finish and he did it well. He travelled well and handled that ground, hopefully there is another one in him. "He was unlucky in Leopardstown that time when clipping the rail and he's not a bad type of horse. "He seems straight-forward this year, hopefully it's onwards and upwards." STEWARDS REPORT * The Stewards fined D.J. Bunyan, trainer, E350 for lodging a passport in respect of Stay With Me, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
