Generator City (far side) jumps the last with Minella Times (centre) and Demi Plie© Photo Healy Racing
Generator City available at 28/1 earlier in the day and backed at all rates from 16/1 into 10/1 on track, came out best in an exciting finish to the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase at Clonmel.
The point-to-point winner, who was also successful in a novice hurdle at Ballinrobe over the summer, was having just his second start over fences on the track and made most of the running in this three-mile event.
The six-year-old was challenged by Demi Plie entering the straight and Minella Times also joined in between horses to make it virtually three in a line at the penultimate fence.
The trio were still locked together at the last but Paul Cawley’s mount just got away from it the quicker and kept on well on the run-in to prevail by half a length.
Minella Times edged out the fellow JP McManus-owned Demi Plie by a head for the minor honours.
Winning trainer Denis Hogan said, "He got a great steer from Paul as he controlled the speed. He is not a quick horse but he got everything spot on and winged the last two.
"He is a giant and won his point to point in Nenagh and that takes a fair horse. I was sent to see him after the spring and sat on him in Dot Love's and loved him and thought he was a real gentleman of a horse.
"I thought the ground today was gone a bit slow for him and this is probably his last run and he'll go on a break. We'll have him as a novice on the kinder ground in the spring."
(TW & AM)
