Mark McDonagh took the bull by the horns with an aggressive front-running ride on 16/1 Taylors Three Rock in the mares' handicap hurdle over two miles at Listowel.

The pair made all and were soon well clear of the field. The pace looked unrelenting and their margin was slightly reduced three out.

The closers really cut into the lead coming to the last, but McDonagh was strong on the seven-year-old mare who sported a first-time tongue-strap in addition to her hood.

She hit the line with a length and a quarter in hand from a keeping-on Red Ball Of Fire (8/1). Betty Dutton the 11/4 favourite, finished third, beaten two lengths by the winner.

This was Taylors Three Rock's breakthrough success on her 10th start across the Flat, bumpers and hurdle races.

Trainer Eric McNamara said: "She was second here in a bumper three years ago and we sold her and she went to England where it didn't work out for her. We got her back for nothing, I have her four months so it was her first run back and I'm over the moon.

"She has ability but is very, very temperamental and we had to walk her around before the start to keep her calm. We went left-handed today as her last good run was here but after watching her today, she'll definitely go back right-handed next time."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes