Fresh from their Midlands National heroics with Tulsa Jack at Kilbeggan on Friday night, Noel Meade and Johnny 'Wango' Moore struck again when Rise Of An Empire landed the Investec Rated Novice Hurdle at Ballinrobe.

John Monash (stone bruise) and Luckey Seven (ground conditions) were absentees here leaving just four to take their chance in the two mile five furlong heat.

We had a good contest nonetheless and Rise Of An Empire, the 5/4 favourite, made all and fended off Lake Malawi and Miguel Angel by one and three parts of a length and a neck. Little Stampy was closer, disputing third under pressure, when making a mistake and unseating Robbie Colgan at the last.

"He'll make a lovely chaser next year. He's a grand big horse," said Meade on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Stowaway gelding.

"He just wants fast ground - the faster the ground the better.

"I don't know where we'll go next. When we stepped him up in Roscommon he wasn't good enough. There isn't much in novices over three miles for him so we'll probably look at a handicap."

(GC & EM)