Nuttorridge (nearest) jumps the last alongside Carlotalin© Photo Healy Racing
Nuttorridge was a deserving winner of the Quam Felix Sumus Handicap Hurdle, scoring under Phillip Enright for Mark McNiff.
Third, fourth and second on his last three starts, the son of Elusive Pimpernel was expected to make the breakthrough this afternoon and was sent off the 11/8 favourite.
Settled towards rear, the bay victor made steady progress on the final circuit and while he met with some traffic problems, he eventually came with his challenge at the last.
Soon ridden to the front, he kept on strongly on the run-in, going on to score by four-and-three parts of a length. No Logic (33s early, returned 10/1) ran on to take second under Simon Torrens for John McConnell, while Viking Hoard (9/1) was just a head back in third.
McNiff said: :He jumped well overall I suppose. His best run of his three in handicaps was when he was third here. It was probably his best piece of form as he was fourth in Sligo and a well-beaten second in Ballinrobe. He needed to come back to that run to win I suppose.
"He will probably go to Sligo for a chase or he might come back here. The plan before today was to go to Sligo next time out. We were keen to go chasing because he is not that fluent over his hurdles.
"The Border Busters Syndicate are from around Newcastle (Co Down) and some are from literally around the corner from my yard. They had a winner a few weeks ago on the flat as well in Ballinrobe with a horse called Brehon Star."
STEWARDS REPORT
B.J. Cooper, rider of Lil Codey trained by C.A.McBratney, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost it's action coming down the hill.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
