Joshua Chamberlain in charge in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
Joshua Chamberlain enjoyed himself in Tramore as he tasted victory for the first time in his career in the 2m5f handicap hurdle.
He jumped into the lead two out (normal three out) under Ricky Doyle and kept wide to avoid most of the churned up ground on the inner.
First-reserve I Am Spider Man looked a big danger as he made stealthy headway in second before the final flight (normal two out).
Joshua Chamberlain still had plenty up his sleeve, though, as he found plenty on the long run-in with the last flight omitted.
He kicked on in the final furlong to take the spoils by seven lengths at 7/1 from I Am Spider Man (11/1). Pat Coyne was another six and a-half lengths back in third at 12/1.
Trainer Gerry Keane said: "The horses are running great. He is a horse that we've always liked and it just took him a while to come to hand. We always thought he'd do something like that, but he has just been frustrating.
"He was fifth to Marine Nationale one day in bumper and was beaten by just over 10 lengths. You'd think you could go anywhere with him after that. He just took a long time to come right.
"He is from a funny family and I had a lot of them. They can show plenty at home but don't bring it to the track. They'd flatter you at home and frustrate you when they run.
"I wasn't sure about the ground. He ran a nice race in Ballinrobe (on Monday). Ricky said he probably wanted further and said to go two-and-a-half with him or more. He came out of the race well at Ballinrobe and we had him in here, so we said we'd take our chance.
"He is owned by James Robinson and my wife Esther, but is for sale.
"We will tip away with him now and he'll be jumping a fence sooner rather than later. He is very good over fences and we were going to run him in a point-to-point starting off, but the ground was too fast and we didn't get to run him."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
