Positive Thinker makes the breakthrough

Positive Thinker wore down Earths Furies close home in the Tipperary Handicap Chase over the extended 2m7f.

After being placed five times in a row, a switch to chasing for the first time proved inspired for Positive Thinker.

Earths Furies injected pace into the race down the back and Maxine O'Sullivan still had plenty of horse in the home straight.

Positive Thinker wound up his challenge before the last, though, and was produced on the run-in.

He got to grips with Earths Furies close home to score by a neck to reward favourite backers at 9/4. Runner-up Earths Furies ran well in the first-time blinkers at 10/1. Bearwithmenow (5/1) came in third, five and a-half lengths adrift.

Winning jockey Sean O'Keeffe said: "in fairness to Michael (McDonagh) and Jamie (Ivors, assistant), they had him well schooled and while he rubbed the first, was deadly after that. He was very good over the last two when I wanted him.

"He was very unlucky not to have won one before now and was getting a pound or two for finishing placed so it is great to get his head in front and hopefully the horse will get confidence."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes