Champagne James crosses the line in front from Blackmail (left) & Eligible (right)© Photo Healy Racing
The Ted Walsh trained newcomer Champagne James (5/4 out to 15/8 at the off) ran out a comfortable winner of the last at Navan, the Martyns Specialist Equipment (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Ridden by Robbie McNamara the 4yo son of Stowaway settled in fourth as Nina Carberry went into a clear lead aboard the Noel Meade trained Eligible (11/4).
His lead was reduced three furlongs from home with the winner moving closer into third.
Eligible and Blackmail (5/4 favourite) then battled for the lead inside the final furlong before Champagne James was nursed through by Robbie McNamara to hit the front inside the final 150 yards before going on to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Blackmail had to settle for second under Patrick Mullins for Tony Martin while Eligible was a further two lengths back in third.
Ted Walsh said afterwards: "He is a nice horse and is a full-brother to Rory O’Moore.
"We were going to go point-to-pointing with him but he was showing up well at home.
"I was anxious across the top but he is a good horse.He got a nice ride and he is a horse for the future. He is only four so he might go for a winners bumper in the spring."
The winner was purchased for €20,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby National Hunt in June of last year and is also a full-brother to the Tim Vaughan trained Aland Islands who has won three times from four starts in the UK.
(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)
