Brex Drago survived a scare at the last to land his hat-trick in the New Inn Opportunity Rated Novice Hurdle at Clonmel this evening.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding had registered back to back successes at Kilbeggan and Listowel in the past couple of weeks and the smart Flat performer went to post an 11/4 shot to score again.

Brien Kane produced his mount to challenge two from home and having gained a narrow advantage at the last he flattened the flight.

The Muhajid gelding had to find plenty on the run-in to see off Stacks Mountain by half a length.

Cromwell said:- "He never really travelled that well. I took the cheek-pieces off him because he travelled too strong the last day - he didn't seem to travel that well today and flattened the last two but got the job done anyway.

"That ground was plenty quick for him and he can run away over the winter. I had to run him off his 116 mark and I knew there would be a small field so it's great he won."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)