Up Above, right, forges on under Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
Michael O'Callaghan's Up Above put his experience to good use to land the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden in Navan.
Leigh Roche sent him after the well-backed newcomer, 11/8f Obtain racing to the final furlong and the pair swept past that rival arriving at the furlong marker.
Up Above put the race away in the final 150 yards as he took a couple of lengths out of the pursuers.
He was kept up to his work to score by a length and a half at 5/1. Takana came through for second at 33/1 by a neck from Ecoutez (8/1).
Roche said: “He had a good run in the Curragh but he over-raced that day, was just too keen, and got tired in the later stages of the race.
“The last day in Naas he scoped dirty after the race so we had an excuse.
“He's always shown us plenty of ability and we've always thought he was well capable of winning a maiden and stepping up to be a black-type horse.
“Today he showed what he can do, he's won well. I got there easy and he pricked his ears in the last half furlong so I had to flick him on to keep him up to his job.
“He's a smart horse, he has loads of boot and I travelled so easily the whole way through the race.
“He's going to take a step forward and he's well up to those black-type races, I think he's definitely capable of winning one and he's one to look forward to.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
