Thedevilscoachman© Photo Healy Racing
Thedevilscoachman came with a sustained challenge to claim Ashdale Bob in the final strides of the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle over two mile five at Navan.
Front-running Ashdale Bob kicked on again after the second last and had all of the field bar Thedevilscoachman on the stretch.
Mark Walsh sent Thedevilscaochman after the leader between the final two flights but the pair still had several lengths to find at the last.
Ashdale Bob jumped it slickly as did the pursuer but on the run-in Thedevilscoachman whittled the deficit down all the time and claimed the leader close home to get up by a head at 4/1.
Ashdale Bob took plenty of merit in his runner-up spot at 9/2 and was nine and a half lengths in front of Commander Of Fleet (16/1).
Thedevilscoachman had reverted back to hurdles after placed efforts in beginners' chases and his trainer Noel Meade said: “He jumped so badly the last day, he wasn't having a cut at his fences at all, and Mark thought he sort of lost his bottle a bit.
“We thought that it was getting so late in the season that we'd maybe go back over hurdles and see how it goes.
“When I schooled him at home over hurdles he wasn't exactly showing me an awful lot but he jumped great for him today.
“I think the ground is a big factor with him. When he won his bumper in Naas he sprouted wings in it and he did the same today when he got going. He really came home.
“I haven't a notion where he goes next. He's in the Coral Cup and the County Hurdle. If he goes, the Coral Cup would be the one but it might not be easy after that.
“You'd imagine the way he did that he'd go to three miles.”
Paddy Power halved Thedevilscoachman from 16/1 to 8/1 (non runner money back) for the Coral Cup.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
