The patience of American Star s connections was rewarded in the Lisronagh Handicap Chase when the nine-year-old broke his duck under Davy Russell.

He made his debut back in 2005 when under the care of Val O'Brien and fourteen efforts in the interim had proved fruitless until today. However he travelled strongly to lead here into the straight and he stayed on gamely to repel Duers by a head.

Winning trainer, Thomas O'Leary said: "He needs better ground and those conditions helped him. It is great for the lads (the Galway To Boston Syndicate) who have been a long time waiting for him."

Davy Russell got a day ban for his use of the whip. (EM)