A plan comes together for Princely Conn

Princely Conn wore down Half Shot to spring a 20/1 surprise in the beginners' chase at Clonmel.

Danny Mullins and Princely Conn made sustained progress after the third last and passed third-placed Hell On Earth rounding the home turn. Granny Knot was soon claimed before the second last as Princely Conn went off in pursuit of Half Shot.

He closed up on the leader jumping that fence but couldn't get on terms with him at the last.

Half Shot got away from the final fence, however, Mullins drove his mount up to win close home.

A gamble on Half Shot (11/2 - 10/3) was foiled as he had to settle for second. Hell On Earth was four and a half lengths away from this battle in third at 5/1.

Trainer Tom Mullins quipped: "I love it when a plan comes together!"

"He came back this season after a long lay-off and I suppose it has taken all those runs to get him back to fitness being a veteran and knowing the game.

"That was a two-stone worse race than the one he ran in the last day and Jack (Foley) who rode him said he wasn't fit enough and said he blew up at the third last.

"I had seen horses being dropped (on hurdle ratings by the handicapper) to get into these races in the past and this race fitted him really well.

"J.P. (McManus) is beyond patient and I don't believe there is a more generous man out there although sometimes he has more faith in them than I or anyone else has. It's great that he stuck in."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes