Dark stamps his class

Won In The Dark got a confidence boosting victory under his belt when running out a cosy winner of the two-mile conditions hurdle at Punchestown.

Davy Russell sent his mount on before the straight and he kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a four-length victory over long-time leader Jettymarc

"It was like a bit of work. He had gone a bit lazy at home and has had trouble with allergies, which developed since Christmas," revealed trainer Sabrina Harty.

"We were hoping to get a bit of confidence in him. He usually pulls quite a bit and pulled hard in the Fighting Fifth but didn't pull in the Irish Champion and obviously the allergies were effecting him. He travelled a lot happier today.

"He had more spark about him and even in the stable yard he tried to bite three times. He was full of himself and it's good to see him like that.

"Where he goes next depends on the ground. There is not much point going to Cheltenham if it is soft. We might wait for Aintree.

"In England he would be rated 160 and he's only tiny so I think it would be tough in handicaps.

"His best line of form is when he was second to Sublimity on good ground and since then he hasn't had conditions to suit."