Itsalonglongroad gets the measure of Royal Admiral© Photo Healy Racing
Itsalonglongroad got his all-weather victory at the 16th time of asking in the opening claimer at Dundalk.
An extended mile and two was the trip on offer for the 14 horses and it was Alhajjaj who soon led and went clear.
His petrol ran out entering the straight as the field closed on him. Royal Admiral grabbed a narrow lead in the final quarter of a mile but was soon challenged on the outer by Itsalonglongroad.
Simon Torrens drove his mount into a slender lead from Royal Admiral racing to the final furlong but the latter kept battling in the closing stages before giving best by a neck.
The winner went off at 11/1 and the runner-up was a 6/1 shot having been double that price in the morning. Swift Wing (28/1) kept on in third, a further three parts of a length away.
Trainer John McConnell said: “Simon is strong and very good value for his 5lb claim. It worked out beautifully as they went hard in front and he was able to get him half switched off. He can be a difficult horse to settle.
“He’s a hard horse to predict. Personally, I hope he’s not claimed but if he is he is. He’s a fun horse and I wouldn’t mind having a few more of them in the yard.”
The six-year-old won a beginners' chase at Downpatrick in September and also has two turf victories on the level to his name from Tramore and Ballinrobe. His first success came in a maiden hurdle at Tramore in April 2018.
This was Torrens first winner at Dundalk. He has been making a name for himself in the National Hunt sphere this season.
There were three claims: Itsalonglongroad was the subject of a friendly claim of €10,000, Eloy D'amerval went to Andrew McNamara for €9,000, and Dark Magic was claimed by Tom Cleary for €6,000.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
