Flemensface © Photo Healy Racing
Flemensface (12/1) landed the Pegus Horse Feed Point-To-Point Flat Race in the hands of Johnny Barry.
Always handy, the six-year-old was pushed along to challenge 1/1 favourite What's Up Darling early in the straight and took that one's measure inside the final quarter-mile. Ridden out by Barry, the six-year-old stayed on well to defeat Asian Master by a length and three quarters with the market leader unable to find any more back in third.
The winner's brother Flemenstide has won a bumper and over hurdles for for Paul Nicholls.
Winning trainer Michael Griffin said: "We bought him for plenty money (E36,000) as a foal and he is full-brother to a very good horse and is out of a half-sister to Master Minded.
"We always had good 'meas' on him, having such a good pedigree and if he went to the sales as a three-year-old he'd have cost E70,000, which is too expensive for us.
"He won his point-to-point very easily and we thought a fair bit of him after that. I was worried they went steady today and that it might turn into a sprint but he stayed on great."
He added "he is a lovely horse and is for sale. He'll be a very good hurdler and long-term will be a good chaser as he is a brilliant jumper.
"There were well touted horses in the race and the favourite (third-placed What's Up Darling) cost £280,000 so hopefully we'll be in that league next Thursday (at Aintree sale)."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
