Alaivan back with a bang

Thomas Barr, Edward O'Grady and Andrew McNamara who suffered a reverse in the second race with Osana didn't have long to dwell on that defeat as Alaivan hammered in the market, justified the confidence in the Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.

The soft-ground loving son of Kalanisi, hurdled really well, he headed Son Amix before two out and stayed on well on the run-in to score.

O'Grady said of the four-year-old, last seen in public when pulling up at Auteuil in May, and third in the Triumph Hurdle before that: "It's not easy to place these four-year-olds. He is a nice horse but I don't really know where he'll go next.

"The good two miler at Leopardstown is the only race for him at Christmas. Anyway I'm pleased he's won here."

Alaivan has done very well physically for his summer break and O'Grady is on record as saying that he'd forgiven his charge the blip in France as that race was his first over French hurdles, the ground was very heavy and it was the end of a long season.