An early Christmas present for Conor Brassil at Tramore today© Photo Healy Racing
Cheerful Chap ran out an easy winner of the John Kiely Special Recognition Handicap Hurdle at Tramore after an incident-packed contest.
The Noel Dooly-trained gelding was to the fore throughout in the two-mile-five contest and was left with a few lengths lead when Mullins Cross who had disputed with him, fell three from home.
Odds-on shot Artic Ambition (4/11) was badly hampered at the third last and unshipped Jack Kennedy while Kilkenny Star also unseated there after being hampered.
11/2 shot Cheerful Chap kicked clear before the second last, under Conor Brassil, and just had to pop the final flight to secure a seven-length success over Esthers Marvel
The winner was making his handicap debut having been runner-up in an 'unplaced' maiden at Limerick a fortnight ago.
Dooly said-: "It's great to win this race named in honour of John Kiely. We've had plenty to do with John over the years. He spoke up for me when I was getting my licence and I've galloped horses at his place.
"With the casualties at the third last you don't know what would have happened, but Conor thinks he had loads of horse underneath him. He won well. Conor didn't even realise there was loose horses until they came at him at the second last. He thought it was a horse sneaking up his inner.
"He ran well the last day in Limerick and I haven't done a whole lot with him in the two weeks since. He got a mark of 95 and this was his first handicap obviously.
“I think he is a nice horse and we've always thought a lot of him. I'm surprised he didn't win a bumper in the summer but I think mentally he just wasn't there.
"He is getting there now and that ground is exactly what he wants. He'd plough away through it all day.
“He might go to Limerick but we will see what the handicapper does. We won't spend too long over hurdles, I'd say he will jump a fence."
(Quotes by Donal Murphy)
