Luckyinmilan has proved a grand servant to connections and relished the step up in trip for a gutsy win in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at Clonmel.

Oliver McKiernan ’s charge won three times over hurdles in the space of just over a month back in 2016, and was very lightly raced until again striking form this year.

This was his third win in 2018, and came just nine days after opening his account over fences in a two-mile handicap at this venue.

Barry Browne again had the nine-year-old up with the pace throughout over this 2m7f trip but was strongly pressed two out by Highest Benefit who held a slight advantage touching down after the last. The Church Gate was also produced with what appeared a perfectly-timed challenge early on the run-in but Luckyinmilan dug deep in the closing stages to deny both of them.

The 2/1 favourite had half a length to spare over Highest Benefit, with The Church Gate just a neck away in third.

McKiernan said, "It was an exceptional ride from Barry and you'd want to know him. From a neutral point of view at certain stages you'd say he was beaten but he never gives up. He'll keep going at whatever speed he's at and he was a bit in front for a while on his own.

"He's a real soft ground horse and it might be hard to get it soft like that again before the end of the season."

(TW & AM)