Damut swoops late to complete hat-trick

Damut completed a hat-trick when just getting up in the final strides under Johnny Burke in the Clonmel Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old gelding provided his Bandon trainer Joe Dullea, who only took out a licence under 12 months ago, with his first winner under rules here back in May and followed up at Cork in August.

The application of a hood and space between his races has proved a winning formulae for the Gamut gelding and his Cobh owner/breeder Edmond Cogan.

Jack Kennedy set a strong pace on Holeinthewall Bar and appeared to have his rivals stretched approaching the straight.

However Damut, who made a mistake three out, gradually wore down the leader, and the 11/10 favourite got up close home to score by half a length.

The pair drew 12 lengths clear of Trade Marked in third.

Dullea said, "The ground might have been a bit dead for him but he (Johnny Burke) timed it well and gave him a great ride.

"The handicapper can't really be too hard on him today and hopefully not as hard as his last two wins.

"He was a bit lonely in the smaller field today and we'll look for another race at Christmas time next."

(TW & AM)