Nice To Meet in dominant form© Photo Healy Racing
Nice To Meet put in a strong shift off the front in the hunters' chase on Listowel's card.
The 11/10 favourite was pestered by Woodbrook Boy approaching the straight, but was evidently going the better.
He reinforced his superiority at the bypassed second-last fence and was clear at the final obstacle.
The seven-year-old gelding popped that under Tiernan Power Roche and ran away with the spoils by 11 lengths. Lanziano (10/1) got up for second from Woodbrook Boy (7/2).
Trainer Mikey O'Connor said: "I bought him from Harley Dunne and Tiernan (Power Roche) had ridden him in the past. Harley said he was a nice horse and said if we gave him time, he was a good horse. He was 100 per cent on the ball.
"I bided my time last year with him and, the last day at Killarney, he was beaten a short-head by a master trainer and jockey (Willie and Patrick Mullins) with Annamix, who had been rated 148.
"He has a bright future over fences and the only doubt I had was he had been at Doncaster Sales last week when he didn't make his reserve.
"I'm delighted for his owner Greg Coleman and his parents who are great supporters of mine and great people - win, lose or draw they are always smiling and they'll enjoy this."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
