A Wave Of The Sea won a dramatic Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle in which favourite Aspire Tower fell at the final flight.
The 1/3 favourite had set out to make every yard of the running under Rachael Blackmore and was duelling with Cerberus (6/1) when clipping the top of the obstacle and falling.
That left his rival with a clear advantage but he couldn't maintain it, stablemate A Wave Of The Sea (12/1) sweeping past him late to snatch the spoils under Barry Geraghty.
There was no Joseph O'Brien and JP McManus one-two though as Wolf Prince (10/1) came through to claim the forecast spot.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 8/1 from 20s for the JCB Triumph Hurdle (non-runner/no bet).
🏇 High drama in the Spring Hurdle @LeopardstownRC ... 1/3 favourite Aspire Tower falls at the last while A Wave Of The Sea finishes strongly to claim what seemed a unlikely Grade One winpic.twitter.com/MujyXxSzHR
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 2, 2020
O'Brien said: "It looked like it was going to be a great tussle out to the line between Henry's horse and Cerberus. Unfortunately he fell, but seems up OK.
"I'm delighted that the two horses ran with a lot of credit. Barry took his time, saved all his energy and came and picked up all the pieces late.
"It looked like Cerberus was fighting with Aspire Tower out over the last and when he fell he just had a look up and probably saw the stands and everything and stopped in front. Mark (Walsh) said when the other horses came past him he stayed on again, but it was just too late.
"They'll have entries in the Fred Winter and the Triumph and we'll go from there. We'll speak with JP and Frank (Berry) and see where they'd like to go."
Geraghty said, "It's a bit of a surprise, but a nice race to win. I thought off the turn in that I had a chance, but the front two pulled away from me going to the last and I felt I was in trouble.
"Obviously Rachael went at the last and the horse in front seemed to stop in the last 100 yards and my lad kept going. He stays well, but whether he's good enough (to win a Triumph Hurdle), I couldn't say."
