Carriganog pops the last to win in Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
With hot favourite Guitar Pete withdrawn from Kilbeggan's beginners' chase, As De Ferbet went off odds on but he couldn't live with Aidan O'Brien's Carriganog
As De Ferbet led but when Haddington Road crashed out at the second last Carriganog picked up the baton to move into a close second.
Odds on backers soon knew their fate as Carriganog and Mark Walsh delivered their challenge on the outside coming to the final fence. Carriganog met the last slightly in front of As De Ferbet (4/6) and Ruby Walsh and strode on to win cosily by seven lengths at 9/2. Tiger Bay Lady (8/1) completed the placings in third. She was beaten 15 lengths by the winner.
"It took him a while to get his jumping together and apart from the one past the stands he jumped quite well," Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said.
"He didn't mind the ground but the jumping was the big thing. Hopefully that will give him confidence going forward and we'll find a little handicap along the way."
Mark Walsh added: "It was a big improvement on the last day. He's had a few problems with his jumping, he jumped brilliant today apart from one early mistake.
"He has travelled well. I knew jumping the second last I had the beatings of Ruby (on As De Ferbet). He has gone about his business at the end."
This gave JP McManus a double on the card as his Tri Na Ceile scored in the opener.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
