Say It Ain't So (nearest) clears the last alongside Pat's Choice© Photo Healy Racing
Daniel King partnered his first winner over fences as he guided Say It Ain't So to a surprise win in the feature at Ballinrobe, the KOG Logistics Handicap Chase.
Also successful on his seasonal debut at Clonmel last year, the Ray Hackett trained eight-year-old was last seen finishing eighth of 13 in a Grade B contest at Killarney in August.
Sent off an 18/1 chance this evening, the Kayf Tara bay raced mainly in third under King and jumped well throughout.
Closer in second from four out, the 116-rated gelding improved into a share of the lead on the approach to the second last.
Ridden before the final fence, he battled gamely on the run-in and gained the upper hand in the closing stages, with just a neck the margin of victory.
The Gordon Elliot-trained Pat's Choice (4/1) was the one just denied, while Pakens Rock (14/1 from 40s) was a further six-and-a-half lengths back in third, running his best race for quite some time.
Returned the well-backed 2/1 favourite (from 7s early), West Breeze could only manage fourth after leading for much of the contest.
"He's a horse that kind of gets himself fit. He does plenty at home so not over-training him is the key," Hackett, who trains the winner for the Gleeson & Kearney Partnership, revealed.
"That's his second win over fences. You could go back over hurdles but he jumps a fence so well, why would you?
"He likes a bit of nice ground and hopefully we'll have a good summer with him.
"I think that's Dan's first chase winner and I know him from Denis Hogan's yard which is only over the road from us. I've watched Dan a good bit and he just sits there and drops his hands on them so I knew he'd suit this horse.
"He won first time out last year and we did the same thing with him ahead of this. You always doubt yourself whether he's a bit undercooked but you have to trust the horse."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
