More Music (Mikey Fogarty) has ground to make up on Ask Mary after the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tracey Gilmour had her colours carried to success as More Music justified support at fancy prices when appreciating the step up to three miles in the Rosegreen Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.
The Sean Treacy-trained gelding had failed to trouble the judge in four maiden hurdle outings but these stamina-sapping conditions on handicap debut proved just the trick as he prevailed by a nose.
The six-year-old was as big as 40/1 overnight and further backed on track from 25/1 into 16/1.
Ask Mary who completed a four-timer in point-to-points a couple of years ago but frustratingly remains a maiden under rules, looked sure to score when three lengths clear at the last.
However, the front-running 7/2 favourite got very tired in the closing stages and was hauled in by the Mikey Fogarty-ridden More Music right on the line.
The pair finished ten lengths clear of Memory Of Youth with Desert Maid completing the places well adrift.
Gilmour, who was a big part of Willie Mullins' team at Closutton for many years looking after stable greats such as Florida Pearl, said "I do a lot of looking after injured horses for Willie and he is very good to me. This is more a side-line than a business but he'll be for sale.
"I bought him as a three-year-old in Tattersalls and he was a bit slow to come to hand. Myself and Sean help each other out and I also have a Mahler five-year-old who might run on Sunday and another for the Sales."
Treacy said, "Tracey takes all the credit, she owns him and has the place leased off me and does all the work with him. It is great he has won for her, and both of us, as a lot of work went into him.
"He is a grand lump of a horse and can only improve over a fence."
(TW & AM)
