Tullyhogue Fort, right, passes Likable Chancer on the run-in© Photo Healy Racing
The second divide of the extended two mile three furlong handicap chase at Tipperary came down to the jumping of the last and it was Tullyhogue Fort who grabbed the spoils. Likable Chancer led, but a sketchy jump there saw him vulnerable to the pursuer, Tullyhogue Fort. The latter landed running and claimed the former in the closing stages before moving three-and-three-quarter-lengths clear for those who took the 16/5 on the favourite.
Runner-up Likable Chancer was priced at 12/1 and was a whopping 19 lengths in front of third-placed Lesssaidthebetter (16/1).
Trainer John O'Neill's son Paul O'Neill said: "He is a grand horse, is very straightforward and I made too much use of him riding him myself in Sligo, when he also nearly tripped on a bend and it just didn't work out.
"I was saying to Kevin (O'Neill, cousin and assistant) that if he won one race a year, which he has done for the last three, that he'd be ok! He is a low-grade horse, but is rated low enough that he is competitive every day.
"Myself and Kevin bought him from Paul Cashman and truck away with a few horses ourselves. I run Kilnacrandy Training Facility in Quin (Clare) which is open to the public and pre-train for people."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
