The handicap chase on the card at Thurles this afternoon produced a cracking finish with Kilcrea battling gamely to land the spoils in the 2m6f contest.

Betterthanalright cut out the early running in the race before being headed by fellow 2/1 joint favourite Empire Of Dirt before the seventh fence.

Empire Of Dirt looked in control turning for home but crashed out at the second last fence and hampered Kilcrea, who was giving chase.

Betterthanalright was left in the lead but Kilcrea soon battled back to challenge.

There was nothing between the pair over the last but Davy Russell got a narrow lead on Kilcrea in the closing stages and he got up for a neck success.

"He ran a great race at Limerick when Patrick (son) rode him and he said to put blinkers on him next time and it has worked. We thought he was a good thing today but had luck on our side," said trainer Jimmy Mangan

"The ground was too heavy for him but they all had to go through it and I'm delighted for his owner Micheal O'Driscoll (solicitor), who is working at the High Court today and has been a great supporter of mine over the years."

Kevin Sexton received a 4 day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency on Betterthanalright.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)