Massini’s Brook proved tough in front as he landed the concluding bumper at Clonmel this afternoon.

Sonny Carey made all on the Noel Lawlor-trained gelding who had been placed in testing conditions at Sligo last month.

Flaming Dawn sent off the well backed 7/4 favourite (7/2 this morning), looked a big danger early in the straight but couldn’t live with the winner in the closing stages.

Carey got a good tune from his mount as the 12/1 shot galloped on well inside the final furlong for a two-and-three-quarter length victory.

Owner Michelle O’Toole, from Kildare, revealed that it was the second time she had a winner that Lawlor hadn’t been there:-

“He’s at the sales and he texted me to say he’ll have to stay away in future!

The winner could also go under the hammer according to O’Toole:- “If he’s not sold he could go chasing.”

The race was marred by a couple of bad injuries to runners with Silver Pheasant coming down in the straight on he first circuit and Anothergreymorning pulling up quickly on the turn for home.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)