Bright Flame and Shane Kelly (left) win from Mountain Fox (noseband) and Demi Plie© Photo Healy Racing
Fourth to Mountain Fox last time at Leopardstown, Bright Flame (7/1) outstayed that rival over the the extra half-mile to take the Fenor Handicap (Div I).
Shane Kelly (tenth winner of the season) got a nice run through on the inside of the front-running Demi Plie to lead inside the two furlong marker, and the Big Bad Bob gelding kept on well to repel Mountain Fox by a length and three quarters with Demi Plie another three lengths away in third.
The 11/4 favourite De Mazzaro finished in tenth place.
The lightly-raced 4-year-old winner started in handicaps this year and showed promise when fifth behind two subsequent Galway Festival winners, Walking On Glass and Princess Zoe, in June. He was getting off the mark her on his seventh start.
Mick Martin, son of winning trainer Willie Martin, said: "We were just hoping the two miles would bring out that little bit of improvement. That and the ease in the ground, that's all he wanted.
"I'm delighted for his owner Michael Roe, he is a son of the late Johnny Roe (multiple champion Irish Flat jockey).
"He stuck with us for five years and that's his first winner. In fairness to him during the lockdown he said 'don't worry, I'll stick with you,' and that's what you want.
"He is a grand little horse we bought him cheap and hopefully he'll win another couple. We are based in Barntown outside Wexford town and we have ten in at the moment."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
