After a frustrating spell over hurdles Fort Smith got his head in front at Downpatrick in the two mile seven beginners' chase.

Paul Carberry settled the 9/1 shot in mid-division before the pair improved into third with a circuit to race. They moved into second before the last and headed runner-up Archie Meade (3/1) close home. The winning margin was a length and a half. The Cub at 33/1 was 16 lengths further away in third. Shantou Flyer the 7/4 favourite, made a bad mistake at the seventh and was pulled up before the last.

Gordon Elliott said: "Paul said on the night nothing would have beaten him. He was full of running everywhere. He's a horse with loads of ability. He's a pure pig of a horse!"

This gave Carberry a treble for the evening as he bagged the previous two races on Be Seeing You and Cristy's Call respectively.

It was a double for Elliott who was responsible for Be Seeing You in the two mile six handicap hurdle.