Playing & Shane Butler take off at the last on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
The ten-year-old Playing got the better of his younger rivals to take the Holy Thursday Handicap Chase under Shane Butler for trainer Tom Foley.
The French bred son of Astarabad won a Grade 3 over fences in his native land in 2007 and was having his first start over the larger obstacles since 2008.
He has run six times over hurdles since coming to Ireland, winning a handicap hurdle over the course and distance in December.
Sent off the 7/2 favourite (was as big as 9/2 this morning) this afternoon, he tracked the leaders for much of the contest before coming with his challenge and hitting the front before the straight.
A good jump at the last sealed the deal and he stayed on well on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.
The Robert Tyner trained Knock Beauty (20/1) attempted to make all under Phillip Enright but she found just the winner too good while Hillman finished a head back in third under Paddy Mangan for John Joe Walsh at 4/1.
Tom Foley said afterwards: "He seems to like it here, there aren’t enough races for him here though!
"He has had lots of problems and it hasn’t been all downhill sailing with him. He is not over raced and we will try and find another chase for him now."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
