Jessica Harrington's Sandymount Duke stayed on stoutly to see off his five rivals in the extended two and three quarter mile novice chase in Killarney.

The 9/4 favourite was well off the bridle turning for home in second behind the smoooth-travelling Deans Road

Power drove his mount upsides Deans Road at the third last but he was less than fluent there. However, he went into the lead heading to the second last as Deans Road stayed in the same gear.

Sandymount Duke was ridden to assert after the penultimate fence. A good jump at the last helped his cause and he boxed on as Valyssa Monterg (3/1) ran on into second without threatening him. She finished two and a half lengths adrift.

"He'll be finished blowing before I'm finished blowing! He's a wonderful horse, he never wins races by far and only does what he has to do and makes you work for it," Robbie Power said.

"He keeps plenty for himself - I'll have a chat with the trainer now and see what our options are but he could stay a novice for this season and then a race like the Irish National could be right up his street.

"No doubt he could stay extreme distances and the further they go the better for him."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes