The lightly-raced Mitebeall Forluck made his handicap debut a winning one when getting up in the dying strides to take the John Kennedy Motors Handicap Chase.

The five-year-old gelding was patiently-ridden by Barry Cash, who just coolly pushed the 7/1 chance out on the run-in to pip Tellherimnothere by a head. New Phase held every chance finishing a further length and three quarters back in third.

Winning trainer Arthur Moore said, “He wants nice ground and that’s why his form had been so bad. We’ll tip away at something similar.”

Incidentally Mark Enright was confirmed the top jockey at Clonmel for 2013 after this race, and former weigh room colleague Ken Whelan accepted a cheque for €1,000 on his behalf.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes