Birdie Or Bust an easy winner of opener

Rachael Blackmore kept it simple on Birdie Or Bust who won the mares' maiden hurdle in Tipperary as she pleased.

The Walk In The Park mare was backed down to 4/7 favourite after a pair of runner-up berths at Tramore and Fairyhouse.

Blackmore sent her to the front at the first flight and her partner travelled strongly approaching the home bend.

She asserted at the second-last flight and was clear at the last which she jumped well. From there, she cruised in by a facile 14 lengths. Something Abouther (5/1) took a remote second and was nine lengths clear of Baby Chou (16/1).

"her winter form was good, she went for a break then and has come back twice the mare and looked really well.

Henry de Bromhead said: "We purposely waited for the new season to reappear and she is a nice mare, so hopefully keeps improving. She has always shown a nice bit and I'll see what Frank (Berry) and J.P. (McManus) want to do now.

"Hopefully she has a future ahead of her and I'm delighted for the McManus's."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes