Pat Neville felt first-time blinkers were the driving force behind Nine O s popular victory in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick.
The local trainer now has Irish National aspirations for his tough 11-year-old, who seized the initiative at the third-last fence.
Sent off at odds of 14-1, Neville's charge showed stamina in abundance to keep on for a nine-length call over Merry Cowboy
"First-time blinkers obviously worked well and he has been a great old servant," said Neville.
"He didn't get into the Kerry National last September and was left at the start at Cheltenham last time out.
"Hopefully he can run in the Irish National some time."
JP McManus racked up a second winner of the Limerick Festival when Tommy Stack's Perce Rock obliged in the Guinness Christmas Racing Festival Hurdle.
Stack's son and assistant Fozzy said: "Perce Rock has taken a lot of time to get fit but he did it well and jumped well.
"He'll go back chasing soon."
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