The featured Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) was a thriller with only a fraction over a length covering the first five home.

It was last month’s course winner Futurum Regem (16/1) who, having been third jumping the last, stayed on well to lead close home and hold fellow closers Sassy Yet Classy (16/1) and Bread And Butter (25/1) by a neck and the same.

The 10/3 favourite Folcano disputed the lead from early in the straight but was relegated to fourth on the run-in.

The winner, a 28-race maiden under all codes prior to making the breakthrough on his previous start in this discipline, is declared to run over 2m at Thurles tomorrow.

Winning trainer Hugh Finegan said: “He’s a little horse but just seems to be improving the whole time. The secret to him seems to be ground and weight. The ground was good and we’re lucky it hasn’t changed.

“The light weight really suited him as he’s not a big horse.

“I train only about 15 minutes down the road in Nobber. I have four horses for the track and a few point-to-pointers.”

It was a notable victory for 7lb claimer Neil Ryan (20) who explained: “I rode a winner at the Curragh this year (Crasssus) and that’s my first winner over hurdles — my first big ride.

“I’m working in Noel Meade’s full-time. Luckily enough Hughie’s nephew is in Noel’s as well and he helped to get me the ride.

“He jumped and travelled the whole way. I gave him a squeeze up the straight and he picked up. He toughed it out and seems to like it around here.”

Quotes from Alan Magee