Strong-travelling Fit The Cove was driven out by Pat Smullen to take division two of the extended seven furlong handicap at Tipperary.

On course punters latched on to the veteran 12-year-old gelding’s last piece of form when he was second in a handicap at Killarney last week and punted him down from 7/2 to 11/4 favourite.

He was always travelling well in behind leader Khelino and when Smullen got him along the near-side rail and asked for an effort a furlong out he was always holding fast-finishing Vasoni (12/1) by half a length. Benalex Park at 20/1 completed the placings in the 12-runner contest.

“That’s great to get his confidence back. He has been a great servant and has come down to a winnable mark,” trainer Harry Rogers said.

“His last win was at Galway three years ago [August 2009]. He’ll go to Galway but it looks very hard for him to get in.

“He’s a better horse round a bend [in the track].”

Michael Graham (on course reporting by Thomas Weekes)