Dancing On My Own, right, gets the better of Buddy Rich© Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead's Dancing On My Own won a protracted battle with Buddy Rich in the beginners' chase at Killarney.
The pair had the race to themselves before the home straight with three fences left to jump.
Dancing On My Own led but Buddy Rich threw down the gauntlet as the race heated up two out.
Dancing On My Own pecked upon landing there but was ridden back into the lead before the last by Darragh O'Keeffe.
He was stronger in the finish as he went on by two and a quarter lengths.
This was his chasing debut after being off since finishing sixth in a Grade 2 over hurdles at Cheltenham in November 2019.
The market got it right as the winner was supported from a morning price of 3/1 down to 5/4 favourite on the off while runner-up Buddy Rich drifted from 4/6 this morning out to 15/8.
O'Keeffe said: "it is nice to get this lad back after two years off and it was a nice performance. He was a little ring-rusty but in a better race you'll see more from him.
"He was a classy hurdler and it was a nice performance to get him back.
"It is great to ride a winner for Bernadine and Sean Mulryan (the jockey's sponsor)."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
