Grange (right) jumps the last alongside Shesonlyahorse© Photo Healy Racing
The Eddie Harty trained, JP McManus owned Grange sprang a 14/1 surprise in the @TipperaryRaces On Twitter Handicap Hurdle under Alan Crowe.
The 5yo son of Vinnie Roe ran in three maiden hurdles last year and was given a mark of 92 by the handicapper.
He finished well beaten on his handicap hurdle debut at Down Royal in May of this year behind Flemross and was subsequently dropped two pounds to 90.
Waited with towards the rear today, he moved into a closer sixth before the straight and was fourth before the second last.
He hit the front at the last and was ridden to assert on the run-in, soon going clear to score comfortably by four and three parts of a length.
The Kevin McDonagh trained Shesonlyahorse ran well to take second at 10/1 under Bryan Cooper while The Gnathologist was a further eight and a half lengths back in third at 12/1 for Donal Kinsella and Tommy Treacy.
Another JP McManus owned gelding, Pride Of The Lions was the gamble of the race and he was backed from 6/1 into 9/4 before going off the 3/1 favourite under Mark Walsh for Niall Madden.
He was ridden entering the straight but never picked up and finished a disappointing eighth.
Winning trainer Eddie Harty said afterwards: "I've always liked him but he disappointed so badly up North that I sent him home (to Martinstown). He needed that time to mature and he is a different horse now, although it was a surprise to me.
"He is maturing but he is not yet there and I didn’t think he would be as good on that ground."
The Jim Culloty trained Marlos Moment (7/2) made a bad mistake at the fourth flight and was quickly pulled up by his rider Tom Doyle.
Unfortunately the son of Where Or When was put down.
(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
