Whatsyourstatus© Photo Healy Racing
The 5/4 favourite Whatsyourstatus took full advantage of his lower hurdles mark when winning the Thank You To The Frontline Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Sean Flanagan.
Travelling well turning for home, the Ask gelding forged ahead racing to the final flight where a fine jump sealed victory. A length and a quarter was the margin of victory in the end over Walk Me Home (11/2), with War Eagle (28/1) another four and a half lengths away in third.
Following a maiden victory over fences at Tramore in August, the winner had chased home subsequent Munster National winner Aforementioned in a novice chase at Clonmel and switched back to hurdles off a tempting mark of 102.
Winning trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin said: "That's him for the season and the plan would be to put him away for a nice chase and maybe the Ulster National at Downpatrick.
"He jumps fences better than a lot and is very quick over a fence. I thought today was a good opportunity and I doubt after today, his ground will still be there.
"He'd run through fire and water but is only settling now and the reason he didn't win over hurdles before now is he is cracked and he never settled in a race. He has now become a man and the penny has finally dropped.
"I will have eight to ten horses for the winter, I have two myself for the track and the rest are Chris's (Jones, owner)."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
