Fr Humphrey wore down his rivals from the front in an attritional contest for the two-mile-seven handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

3/1 favourite Well Tom made his exit at the first and it was the Billy Treacy-trained 14/1 shot who proved best in a race where only six of the 13 runners lasted the course.

Andrew Lynch got a good tune from Fr Humphrey and he survived a slight scare at the last when paddling his way over the fence.

The ten-year-old stuck on well in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-half length winning margin over Thekingofconnemara

The winner was making his first start since finishing well beaten at Kilbeggan in early June. He had attracted some support this morning form 20/1.

Lynch said:- “They thought the blinkers would sharpen him up and they did. It was a fair performance for his first run back after a break. He likes to be ridden good and positive.

“He banked the last but it was the only one he made a mistake at. Thankfully we made it over together.”

The winner is owned and bred by former trainer Mary Louise Hallahan's father Con and was having his first run for Billy Treacy.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)