There were two false starts before action got underway in the handicap chase© Photo Healy Racing
Fiery Oscar justified his short price to secure a hat-trick in the 2m6f handicap chase at Tramore.
Having won twice over timber already this year the Oscar gelding was a warm order (6/4 into 5/4f) to make a successful return to chasing.
Colman Sweeney, riding the eight-year-old for his father Roger, settled the hotpot in behind the leaders before taking closer order at the third last.
Hillman had taken over from front-runner Son Of Moyne going to the penultimate fence but his lead was short lived as the favourite jumped on at that obstacle.
He powered clear before the last, but survived a slight scare as he pecked slightly on landing after a flying leap, going on to record a 11-length success.
“He's running well and it's not every horse that will handle Tramore,” said Sweeney senior afterwards.
“He'll go for a similar contest next and it's grand to get the win.”
The stewards enquired into the start and first called in Liz Lalor, rider of Avralan about the first false start. She emerged without punishment for that.
She didn't escape the second time, however, as she and eight others were handed two-day bans for the second false start.
The stewards also handed suspensions to:-
John Lalor (Clonbeale Vacation), David Splaine (Son Of Moyne), Philip Enright (Hillman), Colman Sweeney (Fiery Oscar), Mark Enright (Hold Em Cowboy), Sean McDermott (Baizically), Ian McCarthy (Flying Windsor) and Adrian Heskin (Valours Minion).
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
