The Tom Gibney-trained Regina Dracones ground out a game victory to open her account over fences in the beginners chase at Clonmel.

Gavin Brouder tracked the leaders on the 16/1 shot and the Kalanisi mare came to tackle the front-runners turning for home in the two-miler despite some careful jumps.

She had just edged ahead of Even Flight when that rival crashed out at the second last fence.

A slow jump by the leader at the final fence saw Song Of Earth land almost upsides but Regina Dracones found plenty on the run-in to post a length-and-a-half victory.

The winning rider said:- "It was very gutsy from the little filly.

“She got a bad bang the last day I rode her. A horse fell in front of her, six from home, and she had nowhere to go and hit him. That knocked her confidence a little bit but she will get it back after that.

"She wandered around on the approach to the last but was full of running and pricked her ears at the back of it. She didn't mind the ground."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)