Last year's Champions, Trainer Willie Mullins and Jockey Ruby Walsh, combined to win the opening Launch Of The August Racing Festival 14th to 17th Maiden Hurdle at Tramore today with 7/4 favourite Ashjar

The winner improved to lead from the third last flight but was strongly pressed approaching the final flight by Honey Pound However Ashjar secured a faster jump at the last helping him maintain his diminishing lead to the line, for a length and a half win.

Afterwards Walsh stated “he jumped a lot better than at Cork and we've schooled him plenty since. He's getting the hang of things and he stayed on well too.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy