Ballyfinboy, left, leads The Mooch over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Jimmy Finn's Ballyfinboy was all out to fend off The Mooch at the end of two miles in Tramore's handicap chase.
Initially Ballyfinboy raced in second behind The Mooch then took up the running after the fourth fence.
Heading out on the final circuit with five fences to go it was Tisamystery and The Mooch who tracked him in second and third. Tisamystery made a mistake at that obstacle which saw him come off the bridle. Dark Outsider began to get into the race jumping the third last in fourth. The Mooch was ridden in second approaching the penultimate fence as Dark Outsider came under pressure. The Conker Club was travelling better than that pair in third.
The Conker Club wilted after the second last as Kevin Sexton went for the whip on Ballyfinboy. The Mooch found more for pressure and was a length off the leader at the final fence.
Ballyfinboy jumped it well but had to battle to hold The Mooch who kept cutting into his lead all the way to the line. The 6/1 chance prevailed by a head from the 5/2 favourite. Dark Outsider (16/1) was five and a half lengths away in third.
Kevin Sexton said: "The ground was a big help and it was nice to see the rain come for him. It probably suited him more than The Mooch.
"He wasn't doing a whole pile in front but he winged the last and kept going. That's my first winner as a professional [lost claim earlier this month] and hopefully I can keep it going."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
