Atlantic Shore and Brian Hayes pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Atlantic Shore ran out a comfortable winner of what was an incident-packed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
Successful in a point-to-point at Knockanard for Mark Cahill in February of 2018, the son of Mahler had put in some admirable efforts in defeat since and was twice second over flights earlier this year.
A good fourth on his racecourse debut over fences at Limerick earlier this month, the seven-year-old was expected to make the breakthrough this afternoon and was sent off the 11/8 favourite.
Settled behind the leaders on the inner, the Mike Neville owned bay was pushed along at times by Brian Hayes.
He got to the front on the approach to the straight and soon had matters under control, keeping on strongly to record an eleven length success. Getaday (18/1) finished second under Ambrose McCurtin for TJ Nagle, while the Des Donovan trained An Marach (33/1) was a further ten lengths back in third. Derby fell five out and brought down both Castlegrange and Eagle Roque while Florrie Webb unseated at the fourth and Big Debates fell at the fourth last.
Winning trainer Philip Fenton, who was completing a double on the day having claimed a four-year-old maiden at Dromahane with Carrolls Cottage, said: "He should have some sort of future over fences.
"I was happy with his run in Limerick and the conditions of the race today, for horses that hadn't won over hurdles, were right up his alley. Let's hope he can stay progressing.
"I'd say he will go into handicap company now. He didn't mind the ground today because he is a bit sluggish. He gallops, he stays and he jumps. We got him on a good day today because some days he can be a bit moody.
"We had a four-year-old winner at Dromahane too. A horse by Mahler who had one run in the spring and was fourth. We were probably going to run him a few weeks later but then the lockdown happened.
"He is a horse with a bright future and I think he will go to the sales if they take place."
