A Plus Tard finished with a flourish to collar Kemboy in the final strides in a vintage renewal of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

Kemboy looked sure to win the race for a second time in three years, having helped set a strong gallop in the early stages before stablemate Melon took over the lead with a mile to run.

Melon went well clear at one stage, but David Mullins did not panic on Kemboy and when Melon stuttered into the second last, Kemboy reclaimed the lead.

It looked sure to be a Willie Mullins-trained winner as at that stage Allaho was third, but as he dropped away, A Plus Tard could be seen making ground.

Stepping up to three miles for just the second time, Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard (15/2) hit overdrive having jumped the last with many lengths still to find and he ended up providing jockey Darragh O’Keeffe with the biggest win of his career by half a length.

The race lost some of its lustre when the front two in the betting, Minella Indo and Delta Work, departed within two fences of each other early on the second circuit.

O'Keeffe was having his first ride in a Grade 1 event and said: "He did everything right, he travelled and I thought we went a really good gallop.

"When I gave him a squeeze after jumping the second last, he picked up and he galloped right to the line. After the back of the last I did (think I was going to get there).

"It was brilliant and I'm absolutely over the moon. I can't thank Henry de Bromhead enough - it's my first Grade 1 winner and my first winner for him. This lad had a real, live chance.

"There were a few questions about whether he stayed or not but he definitely stayed anyway."

Henry de Bromhead said of the winner: "He stayed on really well in the end. I thought he was staying on in the Ryanair last season and he definitely stayed on really well there.

“He won a Grade 1 here over two miles and a furlong last year and now he's won over three miles. He's still only six.

“We'll see what we do now. He had a tough race there so I'll speak to all the connections and decide after that. I'm delighted with today.”

On future plans for the winner, he added: "We'll see whether it's the Ryanair or the Gold Cup, it's up to everyone involved.”