Ionisphere and Enter The Indian flash past the post locked together© Photo Healy Racing
Ionisphere just held on in a driving finish to the second division of the two-mile handicap at Clonmel.
The winner had an unusual campaign this year having been point-to-pointing before a run at Dundalk last Friday, where he beat only one home.
Willie McCreery 's charge was unsuprisingly a big price this morning but there was money for him at 25/1 and he eventually went off a 10/1 shot on course.
Wayne Lordan produced his charge to lead over two furlongs out and he had Sounds Of Thunder for company.
He saw off that rival over a furlong out but the well-backed favourite Enter The Indian (11/4 in morning into 15/8) then flew home in the closing stages and just failed by short-head to get up.
"All his Flat runs he has been going to the front and I told Wayne today to drop him out and let him enjoy himself," said McCreery.
"Thats was his first time in cheekpieces. I've had five seconds in the last few weeks and I thought I was done again today!"
There was a nasty incident leaving the back straight when Skiing In Tune stumbled and fell. Shane Gray was none-the-worse for his tumble.
Gary Carson & Alan Magee
