Surrogate Lad left three modest chase outings last term well behind when making a successful switch to handicaps in the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase.

The Tony Martin-trained gelding was beaten an aggregate of over 360 lengths in those three outings and not surprisingly started here off a basement mark of just 77.

However he attracted interest at 14/1 in morning price lists, and was sent off at half those odds in this 2m2f event.

Donagh Meyler gave the six-year-old a patient ride, and produced his mount to lead approaching the final fence before drawing clear on the run-in.

The son of Flemensfirth, who holds a couple of entries in a handicap chase and a maiden hurdle at Clonmel next Thursday, stayed on well to beat Fiddlers Bow by six and a half lengths. Hard Bought could find no extra from before the last to finish another seven lengths away in third.

Meyler said, "He was a bit sick last year but was showing bits of form at home recently and is after turning the corner. He jumped well, travelled great and it was a long time since his last run and he'll come on from it."

(TW & AM)