Sean Flanagan is soon to be departing these shores and showed Irish trainers what they will be missing when giving Dashing Ruby a fine ride to claim the Moangarriffe Beginners Chase at Clonmel.
The Paul Flynn-trained gelding took it up at the fourth last and made the best of his way home from there. Auenschutze emerged as a threat in the straight but couldn't find a way past, going down by a length-and-three-quarters to the 8/1 shot.
"He hasn't won for a long-time but I fancied him at Ballinrobe last time only for him to disappoint," said Flynn afterwards.
"Maybe he's just too high over hurdles. I'm not sure how good a race that was but hopefully he can make a better chaser than a hurdler."
Flanagan is set to move to England to join trainer Evan Williams on July 1st after finding opportunities limited here.
5/2 favourite Wikaala was very easy to back (from 11/10) and ran as the market suggested, never travelling in rear and staying one pace under pressure from before the straight to finish a moderate fourth.
