Mississippi River, centre, delivers in Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Mississippi River kept on best to prevail in the Munster Waste Management Handicap Hurdle at Cork.
Maxine O'Sullivan had the 11-year-old gelding in third approaching the home turn before the pair made progress to second jumping the third last.
Mississippi River travelled strongly behind Inishturk Lad at the second last and jumped the last in unison with him and Long Journey Home who delivered his challenge on the outer.
In the final 100 yards Mississippi River forged on to win by a length and a half at 5/1. Long Journey Home (10/1) couldn't match the winner on the run-in and had to settle for second having come from off the pace into contention at the last.
Inishturk Lad, the well-backed 5/2 joint favourite, could give no more in the closing stages and finished third, beaten two lengths by the winner.
Handler Paul O'Flynn, who won an All-Ireland with the Cork footballers, said: "He is a horse who had loads of potential as a young horse but is quirky and has also given leg trouble. I got him from Chris Higgins who had done two years of trotting on the roads to get him right and lot of the credit goes to him.
"Maxine gave him a peach of a ride and also does all the work with him. He still has ability and I'll hope to win another hurdle before going chasing - he's electric jumping fences.
"He's a fun horse for the yard and as long as he's healthy and fit I'll keep running him during the summer. I've 20 in training, mostly point-to-pointers, and recently moved to a new yard in Buttevant."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
