With form figures this year of ‘PF’ Wisty was an unconsidered 25/1 outsider for the two mile handicap hurdle in Cork, but he romped to victory by four and a half lengths.

Shane Crimin was on board for Edward Stanners and set out to make all on the grey gelding. The pair kept up the gallop and had the 4/6 favourite Special Tiara beaten before the second last (finished fifth).

Hat-trick-seeking Portrade made his move from fourth to second and then attempted to reel in the leader between the last two flights. However, this was beyond him as he had to settle for second at 4/1.

“I’m not surprised. If you go back to his run in Thurles last year he was a four-year-old carrying top weight and he just got swallowed up jumping the second last,” Edward Stanners said.

“He pulled up lame first time and fell when he might have finished in the first three or four. So he had his excuses, but he needs to be ridden handy. He had been getting low at hurdles so we schooled him at home over fences. He’s owned by Colm Murphy, an Irishman living in the UK.”

On his last outing he was a close third when he fell at the third last in Wexford.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes