Thedevilscoachman finished off gamely to land the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Tuesday and in doing so became his sire Elusive Pimpernel’s fourth individual Grade 2 winner.
Having travelled sweetly throughout the race on the outside, jockey Mark Walsh brought Thedevilscoachman smoothly around the field before pinging the final flight of hurdles and chasing down Ashdale Bob. Thedevilscoachman crossed the line 9½ lengths clear of Grade 1 hurdle winner Commander Of Fleet back in third, with a further two individual Grade 2 winners also in behind.
Thedevilscoachman was a Listed winner during his novice hurdling campaign and ran with credit in both starts over fences this season, but the switch back to hurdles certainly looked to be to his liking. His trainer, Noel Meade, suggested after the race that he could easily come on again for the experience, and for getting his head back in front having finished behind some top novice chasers so far this season.
Noel Meade pointed towards Cheltenham as a possibility for his progressive jumper, and he holds entries in the Coral Cup and County Hurdle.
Wherever this exciting son of Elusive Pimpernel does go next, we would like to wish his connections the very best of luck with him.
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