Troop Commander sees them off in Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
Handicap debutant Troop Commander forged on well to take the nursery in Killarney.
Kevin Prendergast 's colt had plenty on his plate with six horses in front of him turning for home in this extended mile contest.
He picked up well for Chris Hayes to close on Eclector at the two pole and grabbed the initiative a furlong and a half out.
He was soon ridden to go for home and kept finding as In From The Cold began to get interested in the final furlong.
He was driven out in the final 100 yards to see off a staying-on Bellsinthewood (8/1) by three and a half lengths. In From the Cold (5/1jf) dropped half a length further back to third.
The winner had been unplaced in three races before today and was backed from 16/1 in the morning before going off at 9/1.
Chris Hayes said: "It was a nice performance. They went very hard and he was slow into stride and I let him find his feet and he ground it out well.
"He is a bit of a slow burner and was crying out for this step up in trip. There could be a nice pot in him later in the year."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
