War of Attrition, narrow runner-up in this year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, just did enough to make a winning chase debut at Thurles on Thursday.
The Mouse Morris-trained five-year-old was sent off the 6-4 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase, but lost a bit of ground at a couple of fences on the back straight and had to be rousted along to keep tabs on the leaders.
However, the gelding was back on terms approaching the last two fences, and although jockey Conor O'Dwyer had to push him along, he did not need to use the whip, and the pair got the better of Sraid Na Cathrach close home to score a shade cosily by a head.
War Of Attrition narrowly failed to get the better of Brave Inca at the Festival, going down by a neck after one of the most thrilling finishes imaginable.
Filed by James McMahon
