< Bosman Rule sprung something of a surprise as he powered to victory in what looked a decent contest for the McCarthy Insurance Group Rated Novice Hurdle at Cork.

Paul Townend took the ride on Willie Mullins' second string, settling in second place as Velocity Boy set the pace in the testing conditions, and the 10-1 shot took over in front on the turn towards the straight.

Stablemate Valyssa Monterg was already a spent force at that stage and it was left to The Herds Garden to provide the main opposition, but he could not get close enough to threaten and Bosman Rule galloped on strongly to score by 11 lengths.

Mullins put another winner on the board when Urano who won only once in 11 hurdles starts, made the switch to fencing look easy on his debut over the bigger obstacles in the McCarthy Insurance Group Beginners Chase.

Ruby Walsh set off in front on the evens favourite, who got in close to one but jumped well in the main before stretching away going to the final fence to beat Drumlee by 13 lengths.

There was drama in the McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Chase when Jadanli and If Not For You fell three out while holding every chance, leaving Bothair Clei in front, and Daniel Murphy's 5-2 shot went on to score by a length and a half under Philip Enright.

Mark Walsh eased clear from the second-last in the familiar JP McManus colours to record a facile success by eight lengths on the Martin Brassil-trained Vent De La Cote (2-1 favourite) in the second version of the McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle.

The first version of the maiden went to Jessica Harrington's 7-4 favourite Walk To Freedom who shared pacesetting duties with Lisa's Legacy before striding away heading to the last to win by six and a half lengths in the hands of Robbie Power.

Paul Nolan's Shuilamach (5-1) was going best of all from some way out in the McCarthy Insurance Group Mares Handicap Hurdle and despite jumping the last two flights slowly, she held too many guns for Kindly Vinnie and won by five lengths under David Mullins.