King Alex (nearest) jumps the last upsides The Priests Leap © Photo Healy Racing
The Cargill Neomilk Calf Milk Replacer Rated Novice Chase produced a good finish with King Alex (4/1) just getting the better of long-time leader The Priests Leap (9/2) on the run-in to score by three quarters of a length under Donie McInerney.
The loose Low Lie The Fields (unseated at the first) caused plenty of trouble for several runners on the way around, principally the runner-up, and the latter battled on well up the straight before giving best in the closing stages. Feelgood Island (12/1) stuck to his task well on chasing debut and was only another half a length further back in third at the line.
The 5/2 favourite Farceur Du Large never travelled and was a well-beaten fourth.
Winning owner/trainer Barry Connell said: "He is a smart horse and won three on the bounce over hurdles last year. He is rated 125 over hurdles and there were a few of them that were around the same hurdles rating.
"He's not totally in love with bottomless ground and the loose horse was giving him terrible trouble coming to the last but he was brilliant and ground it out.
"Our horses are taking a run this year and the run in Naas put him spot on.
"I'll see what the handicapper gives him after that and there's a novice handicap chase at Naas in March which could be a target.
"He is a smashing horse - you wouldn't paint him."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
