Finger third Irish winner in Jewson

Finger Onthe Pulse recorded the third Irish victory of the meeting when just holding off The Queen?s Barbers Shop in the Jewson Novices? Handicap Chase.

Trained by Gold Cup winning-handler Tom Taaffe, the seven-year-old was driven out by Barry Geraghty to collect at odds of 9-1.

Finger Onthe Pulse is also owned by Conor Clarkson, whose colours snared the Gold Cup with Kicking King in 2005.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Gold Medallist ensured a decent clip and jumped for fun at the head of affairs for most of the Listed heat.

But after reaching the end of his tether three out, the stage was set for Finger Onthe Pulse to take full control.

A couple of spectacular leaps underscored his domination and while Nicky Henderson?s Barbers Shop (12-1) staged a late rally, Taaffe?s charge had a neck in hand at the line.

Possol and Henderson?s Fleet Street were embroiled in a rare old tussle for the minor honours but the former finished third, a length and a half back from Barbers Shop.

Clarkson added: "This is truly special. To win the Gold cup with Kicking King was the day of all time. We were gutted when he came out last week as we were sure he?d run well.

"Finger is a very good horse in his own right and he?s shown it today. We always felt he had a big race in him. He jumped like a buck and Barry gave him a spectacular ride. We are absolutely thrilled."

Geraghty said: "He was foot-perfect out of the wings at the third-last and second-last. He was very good and his jumping was the key."

"He ran a good race at Leopardstown behind Glencove Marina and I asked Willie Mullins quietly how he good he thought the winner was," said Taaffe.

"When he told me he thought he could be the best he?d ever had, we made the decision to come straight here. I only bring them if they have a serious chance and Cheltenham is the be-all and end-all for me - that?s how I?ve been brought up."

l for me - that´s how I´ve been brought up."