There was drama at the second last in race two at Gowran. Gunnery Sergeant had taken over from the pace-setting Neverushacon when he fell and took down his rival. The result was that American Tom was left with the Join Gowran Park Golf Club For #499 Novice Hurdle at his mercy, going on to complete a double for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Bryan Cooper, rider of Gunnery Sergeant, was quick to react to stop Neverushacon moving away, as that one's jockey Robbie Power was hung up in one of his irons.

Thankfully with the help of others a potentially very nasty situation was averted here.

After the Susannah Ricci-owned French-import American Tom had added to Mullins and Townend's earlier gains with Footpad the latter said: "It looked like we were fortunate there but we'll take every bit of luck we can get.

"They maybe went too slow. We thought that would suit him but it looked like they slipped him and we were fortunate.

"We'll have to go up in grade now and see. Looking at him there it looked like he wants a longer trip."

(GC & EM)