Hillsdale takes the honours under Jordan Gainford© Photo Healy Racing
Hillsdale left previous chasing efforts firmly behind when delivering in the Kieron Gammel Naas Member Handicap Steeplechase over two miles.
He was last seen falling in Punchestown and unseating at Clonmel, but it was a very different story today.
The gambled-on Papa Barns set a fierce gallop off the front and, to his credit, he was still bang there tow out albeit with a greatly-reduced lead.
Hillsdale was the closest pursuer and he travelled smoothly for Jordan Gainford to pick off the leader just before the last.
The 11/1 shot (from as big as 20s in the morning) stretched away on the run-in to score by an emphatic 11 lengths.
Papa Barns couldn't respond once headed, but did finish second at 5/1. Rightfolksplease (15/2) was another five and a-half lengths back in third.
Philip Dempsey said: “That was great. He jumped well, bar one, and he did it very well.
“He just took a long time to get the hang of it, but we're delighted with him.
“He's a bit mad and he's not an easy ride. Jordan has ridden him before and had two falls off him over hurdles.
“It's not that he doesn't jump, but he just takes his eye off it. He settled well today, they went very fast, and he came home well. I was surprised, he was very good.
“I don't know where we go from here, he's probably going to get a fair hike for that as he won far enough.
“He looks an exciting enough horse on that."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
