Sa Fureur, right, just shades Buddy One © Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's Sa Fureur brought up his hat-trick in the Grade 3 Markaye Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle, but had to survive a stewards enquiry after being given a mighty fright by outsider Buddy One
5/6 favourite Sa Fureur stayed on in third for Jordan Gainford to lead upon touching down over the second-last flight.
He battled out the first prize of €17,700 with Buddy One on the approach to the last and edged across and bumped his rival on the run-in.
He held a narrow advantage on the run to the line, but Buddy One (22/1) wasn't going away and fought gamely on the inner to force the photograph which Sa Fureur won by a short head.
The pair also came close in the closing stages and the stewards had a good look at the run-in incidents before allowing the result to stand.
Gainford said: "I always thought I was getting the better of Jack (Gilligan, on runner-up Buddy One), but he pegged me back in the last couple of hundred yards. My horse stuck his head out, though, and had jumped the last two well, which is very important.
"He had a nice run the last day in Punchestown and is a horse who, when he gets to the front, doesn't do a lot. He is a nice horse for the future and the ground was lovely for him.
"He is a nice big strong horse, will fill out more and get even better."
Walk In The Park gelding Sa Fureur won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in January before following up in a rated novice hurdle at the same track later that month.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference from the final hurdle involving Sa Fureur, ridden by J.C. Gainford, placed first, and Buddy One, ridden by J.G. Gilligan, placed second, where it appeared that there may have been contact when the horses were racing upsides to the finish. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, J.G. Gilligan stated that Sa Fureur had come over to his own mount and nudged it off a line which in his opinion had cost him the winning of the race. J.C. Gainford stated that it was tight riding from the final hurdle but in his opinion he had not moved in towards Buddy One. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
