Coolmill did it the hard way from the front in grinding out a victory in the Grade C corkracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The six-year-old gelding evidently likes it in Cork as he was following up on a win in a three mile novices hurdle in October at this track.

Joe Holly, a seven-pound claimer, was on board the last day and also did the steering this afternoon on the 7/2 joint favourite.

He looked to have plenty on his hands as Shane Butler navigated He’llberemembered into contention before the second last. However, a mistake at that flight halted He’llberemembered’s progress and he couldn’t reel in Coolmill on the run-in after the last. He went down by a length at 10/1.

Nicely-backed Golden Plan (14/1 in morning and 8/1 to 13/2 in the ring) was another length and a quarter away in third. Band Of Blood the other 7/2 joint favourite, finished down the field in seventh.

Handler Declan O’Shea said: “He’s tough and he handles any ground. We’ll wait and see how he comes out of this race.”

The winner's share in this race was 17,875 euro.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes