Joint favourites Mon Champion and Watermelon battled it out in the Clonmel Show 4th July Handicap Hurdle with Mon Champion and Shay Barry just holding on by a length.

Barry produced the son of Montjeu to lead entering the straight and the pair kept on well on from the last under a strong drive to keep Watermelon and Andrew McNamara at bay.

Winning trainer Flynn said afterwards: “He will stay handicap hurdling for the time being but he’ll go chasing eventually.”

“He likes that kind of ground and the horse has a heart of gold.”