Damut (right) leads close home to beat Holeinthewall Bar© Photo Healy Racing
Damut completed a hat-trick when just getting up in the final strides under Johnny Burke in the Clonmel Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old gelding provided his Bandon trainer Joe Dullea, who only took out a licence under 12 months ago, with his first winner under rules here back in May and followed up at Cork in August.
The application of a hood and space between his races has proved a winning formulae for the Gamut gelding and his Cobh owner/breeder Edmond Cogan.
Jack Kennedy set a strong pace on Holeinthewall Bar and appeared to have his rivals stretched approaching the straight.
However Damut, who made a mistake three out, gradually wore down the leader, and the 11/10 favourite got up close home to score by half a length.
The pair drew 12 lengths clear of Trade Marked in third.
Dullea said, "The ground might have been a bit dead for him but he (Johnny Burke) timed it well and gave him a great ride.
"The handicapper can't really be too hard on him today and hopefully not as hard as his last two wins.
"He was a bit lonely in the smaller field today and we'll look for another race at Christmas time next."
(TW & AM)
