Mark Walsh continued his tremendous run of success when Vent De La Cote justified strong support in the McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle at Cork.

Available at 6/1 early this morning and sent off the 2/1 favourite, this was Walsh's tenth winner since Christmas and brought the championship leader's tally for the season to 61.

Walsh has ridden two trebles in that period at Limerick on St Stephen's Day and repeated the feat at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.

Martin Brassil 's charge headed the front-running Investmentsuccess at the penultimate flight, and cruised clear to beat that rival by a facile eight lengths. Patsio was a further eight lengths back in third, while hurdle newcomer Show Court weakened in the straight to finish fifth.

Brassil said, "I wasn't overloaded with confidence and was surprised how well he handled the ground. I thought he'd want it better.

"It's hard to pick a maiden hurdle without a Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott runner and you have to go down the country for one of those. He'll go down the handicap route now.â

€Walsh said, "He was entitled to win on his run behind Free Expression at Naas, and I was impressed with him there. The tongue strap helped as he settled nicely and jumped well.

"I was in front a bit too soon but Adrian (Heskin, on Investmentsuccess) couldn't take me any further and I just let him go on about his business."

(TW & AM)