Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith

Church Gate collects at Thurles

The Church Gate eventually collected a major pot on a 14th run for Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith in the concluding handicap hurdle at Thurles today.

Previous best efforts included two seconds and two thirds, but with Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch on board today it was party time for the members of the aptly-named Poor Mans' Syndicate that own the six year old.

Returned at 6/1 ( 9/1 in the morning) had been racing over shorter trips recently, but the 2m 6f proved the right distance today and Andrew Lynch took the lead before the second last and won by almost five lengths.

Robbie Power won the opener and trainer Tony Martin was also on the mark at the Tipperary track.