French Dynamite led home stablemate Weveallbeencaught to provide Eric McNamara with a one-two in the Boyle Sports JT McNamara Munster National at Limerick.
The locally-based trainer landed last year's renewal of the €100,000 feature with Real Steel and this time fired a twin assault with two relatively new editions, with French Dynamite and Weveallbeencaught bought for €40,000 and £40,000 respectively in May.
French Dynamite finished third in the Kerry National at Listowel on his stable debut, while Weveallbeencaught was fourth in a handicap chase at the same meeting and it was the latter who was seemingly the better fancied of the pair for this prestigious contest as the 11-2 favourite.
But it was 16-1 shot French Dynamite who took over the lead between the final two fences and while his stable companion chased him down on the run-in, French Dynamite did not wilt under 5lb claimer Patrick O’Brien and had a length and a quarter in hand at the line.
McNamara said: "There seemed be more money for Weveallbeencaught but it was hard to separate them on form and both ran very well in Listowel. I’m over the moon and couldn’t have asked for a better result.
"I have two very sporting owners and (winning owner) Shane Carmody lives in Adare, so is local and has been a great owner to us. Also myself and Tadhg Moynihan (owner of runner-up Weveallbeencaught) go back a long time but sadly he buried his younger brother earlier this week so couldn’t be here today."
He added: "They are two smashing out-and-out three-mile chasers and while some had doubts that French Dynamite wouldn’t stay, I hadn’t any doubts and he stayed today. He was too keen in Listowel but Paddy switched him off today and gave him a super ride.
"Both horses could go to the Paddy Power but I’d like to think at least one of them could turn up in an Aintree Grand National, especially French Dynamite."
