The Big Galloper, right, challenges Shanwalla at the last© Photo Healy Racing
From as big as 16/1 in the morning, Charles Byrnes' The Big Galloper was hammered down to 7/4 favourite in Roscommon and scrambled home by a neck on attritional ground.
Kevin Brouder 's mount loomed large on the heels of the leaders in third rounding the home bend.
He improved, in the centre, to second jumping two out with Shanwalla just in front of him on the inner and Mountainmore a close third on the outer.
It was really tough going for the front three as they raced towards the last.
The Big Galloper was almost on terms with Shanwalla at the final flight and was driven into a narrow lead on the run-in.
It was almost slow motion as the three protagonists raced across the track for the winning post.
Shanwalla (7/1) rallied close home, however, The Big Galloper got the verdict. Mountainmore was half a length further back in third at 11/1.
"He's a slow galloper but he got there anyway!” said Charles Byrnes.
“He'll go handicapping now. He had shown form on that ground before and we thought he had an each-way chance.
“It could have gone either way and thank God it worked out. I wouldn't like to be winning by those small margins all the time but anyway he got it done.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
