The Nice Guy, left, sees off the favourite, Santonito, right© Photo Healy Racing
The Nice Guy (9/4) got first run on his rivals and stayed on well to win Fairyhouse's bumper - Willie Elliott Memorial - on debut for Willie Mullins.
The six-year-old Fame And Glory gelding was asked for his effort approaching the final quarter of a mile and went for home passing the two pole.
He increased his advantage by the final furlong and was ridden to keep the revs up at the business end.
He got the better of a running on 15/8 favourite Santonito by two and a quarter lengths. The favourite was very easy to back from 5/6. As well as the 'jolly', Gordon Elliott also saddled the third and fourth home - Burn The Evidence (12/1) and the gambled-on Bravo Team - in his bid to land this race run in memory of his uncle.
Jockey Patrick Mullins said: “He was in training all of last season and that really stood to him. He looked very fit in the ring and he’s a light-framed horse that liked that ground.
“He’s six so I’d imagine he might go jumping now rather than a winners’ bumper.
“I just wonder whether he’s going to be a real middle of winter horse. He could be a nice one to look forward to in the spring.”
Mullins snr also supplied Grangee to win the second split of the two mile maiden hurdle on the card.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
