Pops Well put up a fine front-running performance to defy top-weight in the Clonmel Show Sunday 3rd July Handicap Chase.

Ambrose McCurtin had the daughter of Dr Massini in the van throughout, although a group of rivals threw down a strong challenge entering the straight.

However the 7/1 chance dug deep, and a bold jump at the last settled the issue as she stretched clear on the run-in to score by two and three quarter lengths. Massinis Adventure didn’t find as much as seemed likely earlier in the straight to finish second, with Stonehall Jack another three and a half lengths away in third.

The nine-year-old mare had previously won six point-to-points, including at Ballingarry just four days ago, plus a hunter chase.

Winning trainer Paul O'Flynn said, "She is tough as nails. We ran her on Monday in a point-to-point and she won. This race was open so we said we'd try and take it when she is fit and healthy, strike when the iron was hot.

"She would have been out of her comfort zone a small bit with the ease in the ground, they done a good job watering it.

"Hopefully she might pick up another one or two. I'll see what the handicapper does now but she might go for mares chase races. She has black type in a bumper but if I could get another bit of black type into her it would be great for breeding."

(DM & AM)