Drumcliff (left) beats Mustameet Secret (noseband) © Photo Healy Racing
Drumcliff (6/1, from 15/2 before the off) gained his first hurdles win at the age of 12 when getting up in the final 50 yards to win the SF Engineering Handicap Hurdle.
Aine O'Connor, who had partnered the winner to two of his three victories over fences in Britain where he was trained by Harry Fry, positioned him behind the leaders. Having lost his place after three out, the Presenting gelding was driven along in fourth on the turn for home and responded well to overhaul Mustameet Secret on the run-in for a three-parts of a length success.
The winner is trained by Padraig Roche for J P McManus.
O'Connor said: "It's great to win again on him. We did think twice about running him because he's not in love with soft ground but he was so well that we couldn't not run him.
"He stayed well. I won a point-to-point on him earlier this year where he seemed to stay and loved that, and he's the kind of horse that you can't boss him too much, so I let him do his own thing.
"Thanks to Mr McManus and Frank Berry for letting me ride him and all credit to Paudie (Roche), he does a great job with him."
