Knights Templar bridged a near two year winless gap when taking division one of the Kilkenny Handicap under Colin Keane.

Successful on the polytrack at Dundalk when formerly in the care of Ger Lyons, the five-year-old is now with Pat Flynn.

Keane's mount, a 12/1 shot, came home best in the final furlong eventually getting the better of 5/1 joint favourite Eastern Rules a shade cosily by a neck. Fast On (10/1) was another three quarterrs of a length away in third.

Keane said, "He did it well. The plan was to drop him in and he settled well. It's pretty hard work out there, it's tacky ground."