Eiri Na Casca leads Little Stevie over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Eiri Na Casca has proved a grand servant for connections in recent seasons and recorded his seventh win in the Littleton Handicap Chase at Thurles for trainer/rider Denis Hogan.
The eight-year-old loomed alongside the front-running 5/2 favourite Little Stevie between the final two fences before taking control on the run-in.
The 6/1 chance drew right away after the last to score by 11 lengths, with top-weight Goulane Davina another five lengths further behind in third.
Hogan said, "He wasn't right down at the start at Galway (October 29) and was withdrawn but it might have been all for luck as the ground was a bit slow too. He got kicked in the paddock in the morning of the race and didn't feel right going to the start and to be fair the vets used their heads and didn't allow him to race.
"He loved the ground here, they went a right gallop and the race fell apart so he was able to move into it without even asking him.
"The last day here in a hurdle race, I was last and got to the front turning in but he didn't do a tap when he got there. He even looked at some of Molony's (racecourse owners) horses in the field galloping beside him and was gawking out looking at them, so I didn't want to be in front too soon today.
"It's great because he is on the improve and Adrian (McNamara) is a good supporter and we sold one of his, Beautiful Ben, yesterday so hopefully we'll replace him."
(TW & AM)
