Point-to-point followers will remember Joe Dullea riding winners on horses such as Love Divided and Grattan Hill at the start of the 'naughties,' and the Bandon-based handler, a cousin of established trainer, James, saddled his initial winner on the racecourse proper when Damut took the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel under David Casey.

Lively in the betting this morning, the eventual 11/1 scorer, equipped with a first time hood, saw off the well-supported favourite, Lucky Pat by three and a quarter lengths.

"I had him in the two and a half mile race today but he didn't get in so I was worried that the trip might be too short. He'll go for something similar next and will be kept on the go as long as the ground doesn't get too hard," explained Dullea.

"That's my first racecourse winner and my third runner. I received my license last November and had a point to point winner at Dawstown last weekend."

Winning owner/breeder, Edmond Cogan is from Cobh, and he teamed up successfully with Casey twice in 1997, with Toureen Gale, trained by Willie Mullins.

(TW & EM)