Home By The Lee (nearest) and JJ Slevin pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Home By The Lee (8/1) made it four wins from seven starts, as he took the last at Limerick, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
A winner of two bumpers last summer and successful over flights at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, the Joseph O'Brien trained five-year-old unseated on his most recent start at Thurles in February.
Making his debut over fences this afternoon, he was sent off an 8/1 chance under JJ Slevin.
Settled in mid-division, the son of Fame And Glory wasn't fluent at the third and took closer order to go third with just under a circuit to race.
He was pushed along and appeared to be struggling when he dropped to fifth from three out but he responded well for pressure and was ridden to challenge between horses on the run to the last.
The Sean O'Driscoll owned bay stayed on best from the final fence, going on to see off Ministerforsport (6/1) by a length and a half. Run Wild Fred who was sent off the 5/6 favourite, had no more to offer from the last and he finished another length and quarter back in third.
Slevin said afterwards: "It was a good, tough performance and he's done quite well for his first day over fences. He's a young, hardy horse.
"I felt he'd went to sleep on me jumping the third last and thought we were in trouble, but once I got stuck into him he took off. He galloped out to the line well.
"He could be a nice stayer going forward."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Atlantic Shore trained by Philip Fenton was found to have had blood on both nostrils post race. .
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
