Shadow Catcher, yellow cap, heads for home after Is Love Alive falls at the last© Photo Healy Racing
The beginners' chase in Limerick was not without its share of drama but at the end of the extended two miles and three furlongs it was Shadow Catcher who edged out Pink Coat
The 10/1 shot made a mistake at the third-last when in sixth. This led to him coming off the bridle but he still held a good chance as the race was between the six horses in that group as they had pulled clear of the remainder.
Making the home turn and three horses raced line abreast - Pink Coat, Raydari and Is Love Alive Valentino's Choice was a couple of lengths away in fourth with Lord Adare and Shadow Catcher next.
Shadow Catcher came through on the inner to be a close third at the penultimate fence. Is Love Alive and Pink Coat jumped it in tandem just ahead of him. Lord Adare took a crashing fall in sixth.
Is Love Alive looked to have taken charge coming to the last but upon landing he crumpled depositing Bryan Cooper on the turf. This left Pink Coat (11/2) and Shadow Catcher to fight it out and after a ding-dong battle the length of the run-in Shadow Catcher prevailed by a short head.
Winning jockey Kevin Sexton said: "He missed the third-last and I just gave him a bit of a chance. He came back on it fairly quick.
"I was just poking up the inner a bit and when I switched him out I always felt I would get there.
"I just needed a nice jump at the last and he winged it. He jumped really well apart from the one mistake."
This gave trainer Gordon Elliott a double as he took the preceding race with Ibsen
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
