Berties made to battle

Berties Dream was made to fight all the way to land the odds in the Irish Jockeys Association Hurdle at Thurles.

Henry de Bromhead's charge looked a class act off a mark of 143 in the three-mile event but needed to pull out all the stops.

Davy Russell jumped out to make all on the 9/10 shot (from 11/10) but he had to ask his mount for more before the straight. Empire Theatre (20/1 into 14/1) looked to have it all to do off a mark of 108 but emerged as a big threat at the final flight and pushed the winner hard to the line, going down by a neck.

Berties Dream, a former winner of the Albert Barlett Hurdle, was returning to the smaller obstacles after a disappointing effort over fences at Navan in February.

It was a quick double on the card for Russell and de Bromhead following the victory of Old Laxey half an hour earlier.

"He's some horse. Last January he won in very deep ground over fences and today's ground was the polar opposite," said de Bromhead.

"He's tough out and Davy said he was on springs going round today.

"He'll probably run in the stayers hurdle at Punchestown, as opposed to a novice chase, he should give a good account of himself there."

(GC&TW)