The Eye Of Tulla and Gary Noonan© Photo Healy Racing
The Eye Of Tulla added to a win at Limerick earlier this year when staying on strongly to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe.
The Brian McMahon-trained gelding took 16 starts before scoring off a basement mark over fences at Limerick in May and ultimately won in decisive fashion here.
He just headed the front-running Itsalonglongroad when that rival made a mistake at the penultimate fence and the 9/2 shot stayed on strongly on the run-in for Gary Noonan to score by eight lengths.
The pacesetter kept on for second with Ardamir three lengths further back in third.
McMahon said, "He's done it really well, he's a miller to jump and two miles is his trip and he likes to bowl along in a nice rhythm. John Staunton does an awful lot of work with him and he did a little bit of fast work with him yesterday and he said "we're in business".
"Once he gets his conditions, nice ground and two miles, he usually puts up a good show.
"I'm full-time training now and am trying to build up the string. I'm building a barn at the moment which should be ready soon and I'll be up into the low-twenties numbers wise.
"I was working as a biochemist but I said I'd have one cut off this training game and really give it my all, so hopefully things will go well and I'll get my hands on a few nice horses."
Quotes by Mark Nunan
