Time Please© Photo Healy Racing
Everything worked out for Time Please as he clung on to land the gamble in the five-year-old and upwards maiden hurdle at Tramore.
The Edward O'Grady-trained runner picked up the lead early in the two-miler after Ma Heffernans Bar stumbled and fell on the top bend.
He was locked together with Knockeenonthedoor from the third last but that rival lost all chance when sprawling badly on landing at the penultimate flight.
The JP McManus runner was left clear under Mark Walsh and looked set for a cosy victory but he tired on the run-in.
Treacy Hotels Boy started to motor in the closing stages and only failed by a neck to peg back the 11/4 winner.
The winner had been a standout 11/1 with a few firms this morning although he generally had traded at around 9/2 early.
The Westerner gelding had shown some decent form, although well-beaten distance wise, on testing conditions this year.
“Thank-god they haven't moved the winning post here,” joked O'Grady afterwards.
“He might make a nice chaser but could go handicap hurdling first. It's nice to have a home-bred winner (bred by Noreen McManus).”
Cool Klan was sent off the 5/2 favourite but finished a tailed off last of the 14 that completed.
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
