Mars Harper took a while to get off the mark over fences but followed up a win at the Galway Festival by landing the featured Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase on the concluding day of the Listowel Harvest Festival meeting.

Conditions were quite testing for this 2m6f event but the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was prominent throughout and the 7/2 shot kept on strongly on the run-in to fend off the challenge of Fairyhill Run by nearly five lengths.

The pair pulled 13 lengths clear of Birchdale who kept on one paced into third.

Winning rider Jack Kennedy said, “I thought he wouldn’t perform on the ground to be honest but he went away through it well and I’m delighted with him. It’s testing.

“He’s progressing away and hopefully he can keep going that way.

“There should be a good pot in him somewhere.

“The lads (Pioneer Racing) really enjoyed that and I think a few of them are local here.”