Damut wins on first start for Winters

Damut rallied to great effect to fend off Rashaan in Limerick's beginners' chase. Morgan improved to head Damut coming to the second last but Damut responded to Donie McInerney's call and took a narrow lead at the final fence.

It was there that Morgan's chance disappeared with a bad mistake but the race was far from over as former crack hurdler Rashaan got into top gear on the run-in.

Damut closed it out by three parts of a length at 11/1, though. Rashaan, on his first start over fences, was the 6/4 favourite and kept cutting into the lead all the way to the line. Cliff House finished third at 20/1, a further three and a half lengths back. He was the same distance in front of the well-backed Morgan (5/2 to 15/8).

Trainer Mick Winters said: "The old dog for the dog as he used his experience. He had more experience than any of the rest of them and we were hopeful enough of him.

"We have him six weeks and he came to us from pre-trainer Tom Barry who gave him to us in great order. We did no miracles with him and Tom did a great job with the horse.

"In a beginners chase, he was like the school-master inside there and he stood out today."

Winters then advocated an allowance to be given to trainers with runners as he said: "There used to have an allowance for trainers years ago and it should be reinstated. A trainer should receive 100 euro to cover costs and 50 euro should be given to that horse's handler. It is often these small things which will keep people in the game."

This was Damut's first race for Mick Winters having previously won four hurdle contests for Joseph Dullea.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes