The I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle produced a cracking finish with progressive mare Desert Heather (15/8 fav) completing a hat-trick of wins when edging past the always-prominent Solitary Man close home to score by a neck.

Both horses are rated 128 but the Declan Queally-trained winner, ridden by Ray Barron, was in receipt of 18lbs from the runner-up.

The daughter of Cloudings was returning from five months off having won twice at Kilbeggan in the spring. 

Declan Queally jnr. said: "There was a small entry so I rang Harry (Gettings, owner/breeder) to say I was going to stick her in.

"She was only back in the yard, from being out in the field, six weeks so it was a fair trial of her but she is a lively little thing and is able to gallop.

"Ray's 5lb claim helped and she was right at the weights so it is mighty. There is a three-mile Grade 3 novice hurdle here in three weeks so we'll probably go for that."

Quotes from Tom Weekes