Black Hawk Eagle was produced from off-the-pace by champion jockey Colin Keane to win at Navan today, making a winning seasonal return for trainer Noel Meade in the Enjoy Hospitality At Navan Handicap.

Held up in rear in the 15-runner race, the son of Awtaad made late progress with two furlongs to race and eventually scored by two and a half lengths from Kalmira

Meade, who trains the winner for Philip Munnelly, said “Colin was patient on him. I told him to ride him whatever way he thought but I wondering turning in was he ever going to turn up, but he did.”

He added “he was disappointing last year but we probably ran him over distances which were too short. He ran second in Gowran over 1m2f but he fell apart. He won a hurdle race but only really fell-in in an ordinary race.

“He's a huge big horse and is only after filling into himself and he'll go back jumping as well. He stays well enough and does like soft ground which is a help.”

Quotes from Gary Carson