Smallcraftwarning caused a 40/1 upset with jockey Toni Quail in the ladies' handicap hurdle at Thurles.
The seven-year-old gelding surged forward after the third hurdle, nearly catching up with Likable Chancer at the next obstacle. Smallcraftwarning, however, displayed greater stamina, taking the lead between the final two jumps.
Lake Chad made a late push into second place at the last hurdle, but Smallcraftwarning cleared it smoothly and extended the lead on the home stretch. Toni Quail managed to maintain the momentum, guiding Smallcraftwarning to victory by two and a half lengths.
The second-place finisher, Lake Chad, had odds of 7/1 and finished a significant eight lengths ahead of Likable Chancer at 8/1. Trainer Evanna McCutcheon shared her thoughts on the unexpected win, stating,
"His form declined last year, but after winning a schooling race, I decided to give him a break and bring him back. His first race after the break last year was his best, so I had confidence he would perform well fresh today. He was out in the field during Christmas, but he's easy to get into shape. I told Toni before the race to just do her best, and she rode him brilliantly. While we are in this category, he's a joyous horse for Nick (O'Neill), my future father-in-law".
McCutcheon went on to discuss her involvement in pre-training and breaking horses, mentioning she has a point-to-pointer and Smallcraftwarning. Additionally, she referred to having several two-year-olds preparing for upcoming races.