Bocelli's Voice (nearest) © Photo Healy Racing
The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Beginners Chase was won by the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Bocelli's Voice (9/2).
Pushed along in third by Ben Harvey on the approach to the straight, he headed the pace-setting Miss Oreo at the final fence (usual second-last with the last being omitted in all chases on this card) and stayed on well to beat Clear The Clouds and Warm In Gorey by three parts of a length and one and a half lengths.
Con Smyth's Mahler gelding, a winner over hurdles at Clonmel last year, had been fourth on chase debut at Thurles.
Harvey said:- “I was just beaten him in a point-to-point and it's nice to get back on him.
“I really liked him the day I rode him in his point-to-point, I know it was an older maiden but the horse that beat him actually turned out to be quite a good horse in England.
"We always thought he'd be a better chaser and he jumped brilliant. Dermot had him well prepared and does a great job schooling his horses.
“I was a bit concerned about the trip but when I went through the race there was plenty of pace in it so I knew they'd go a good gallop and it suited him when they came back to me.
“He put his head down and he tries. He has cheekpieces on to help him travel a little bit better. He pricked his ears when I got by, what would have been, the last and he might have had a little bit left. He did it well.
“I wouldn't be afraid to go up in trip again with him, I still think he'd be better over two-and-a-half.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
