Blackthorn Prince justified strong support in some style when defying topweight in the Corrib Oil Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.

Available at 7/1 earlier in the day, the point-to-point winner was cut to less than half those odds before racing and went off the 3/1 favourite.

The Enda Bolger-trained gelding and Ballygill Princess drew clear after the penultimate flight, and shrugged off the challenge of his only danger after the last.

The Black Sam Bellamy gelding kept on well under Mark Walsh to beat that rival by six lengths, with Augest Benefit another 11 lengths back in third.

Bolger said, "We've something to go to Listowel with now! He is rated 102 over fences and has a few options. He'll definitely go back over banks at some stage too."

Walsh said, "Everything went to plan and he travelled great. The gap came going down to the second last, and around here you want to be taking those gaps. He galloped away all the way to the line."

(TW & AM)