Memories Of Milan (right) jumps the last to win from Buster Dan Dan (centre) and Wells China (left) © Photo Healy Racing
Memories Of Milan wore down front-runner Buster Dan Dan in the dying strides to grab the spoils in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Listowel.
Buster Dan Dan looked to have done enough as he set out to make every post a winning one in the three-mile contest.
He kicked a couple of lengths clear at the second last but was strongly pressed on the run-in by Memories Of Milan.
Davy Russell got his mount's head to the front close home to record a hard-fought half-length success. Wells China was a length-and-a-half back in third while Magical Moon the 5/1 favourite, made little impression in eighth.
The John Queally-trained winner (13/2) was taking a big leap in distance having won over two miles on his last start at Cork.
“He won three-and-a-half years ago but then got a bad fall one day and lost his way a bit,” said Queally.
“He's back now after a lot of perseverance and he won well in Mallow. He just seems to have got his confidence back.
“I always thought he had the ability if we could get it out of him. The jockey had a lot to do with it today. He got a gem of a ride.”
Russell added:- “He's a tough little horse. He needed all of that three miles around this track. I thought he might travel a bit better after winning over two miles the last day but he needed every yard of the three.”
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
