Three Loud Knocks, far side, jumps the last ahead of Enduring Love© Photo Healy Racing
Three Loud Knocks (7/1) clung on from a staying-on Lacken Bridge at the end of two miles seven furlongs in the Clonmel Handicap Chase. Enduring Love was stalked towards the home bend by Highstreetfashion an improving Three Loud Knocks and Lacken Bridge.
Three Loud Knocks delivered his challenge on the rail and closed on Enduring Love racing into the straight.
He touched down two out in a narrow lead from Enduring Love as Lacken Bridge tried to make an effort in third between the final two fences.
It was tough going for the principals as their stride pattern shortened on the run-in. Three Loud Knocks had seen off Enduring Love in the closing stages, however, Lacken Bridge got a second wind and stayed on purposefully.
He got to within a neck but had to settle for second at 28/1 from 50s in the morning. Enduring Love (15/8f) dropped a length and a quarter back to third.
Trainer Brian Mortell said: "I've four point-to-point winners trained but that's my first racecourse winner. I had one winner with Andrew McNamara last year but this is the first of my own and to have Darragh (O'Keeffe) ride him too is a dream come true.
"I worked for Andrew donkey years ago and I spent my youth with Francis Flood, another marvellous man, and have been in the outside catering business for the last 40 years. I'm since semi-retired and doing this part-time and loving every minute of it.
"He disappointed in Thurles the last day and I felt he wasn't right on the day and Darragh was absolutely brilliant on him today. You have to be patient on him and while he is genuine, he gets bored and thinks 'ah I'm going home!'
"I got the licence in November and this is a dream come true. Life begins at 60, not 40!"
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
