Fad Eadrainn, trained by Patrick Foley, returned to action with a victory, staying on top to win the John Walsh (Mainstown) Memorial INH Flat Race at Clonmel.
The six-year-old was sent off as equal second favourite behind the market leader Cuckoo Valley 5/6f, given that his last three outings had gone rather well.
The winner, ridden by John Gleeson, gained ground less than two furlongs in and took the lead within the last furlong. Although veered left, he continued to run powerfully and defeated the favourite by a neck.
Pat Foley said: “He’s been very consistent and has strengthened up a bit, although it was a worry coming here that the ground changed as much as it did. I told John to ride him to get home and he gave him a serious ride. He’s a nice horse and we think a lot of him. He’ll be a lovely horse going over jumps. We won’t be killing him with racing as he’s still filling out into his frame. “If a winners’ bumper came up in about a month’s time we might consider it or we could run him over hurdles.”