Darroun wins but only just

Robbie Dunne's effort on Aranhill Chief in the McHale Engineering Hurdle deserved more, but bigger names than the Dubliner have come up short against Ruby Walsh in a finish and favourite backers have the multiple champion to thank for Darroun s win at Ballinrobe.

Walsh set an ordinary pace on Darroun which Dunne quickened with a circuit to race aboard Aranhill Chief.

Darroun 'missed' the second last and it was soon hard work for the 11/10 shot to pick up Aranhill Chief. Pick him up he did though, literally on the line, a nose being the margin. There was an eleven length gap back to All Or Now in third.

Walsh said of the Willie Mullins-trained, Mrs Susannah Ricci-owned winner: "He didn't give me much help but when I needed one at the last he came up for me.

"I thought I was well up but the longer it took for them to call the result the more I thought I'd mistaken the winning post.

"That'll give him the confidence to go on from here and I'd imagine he'll go jumping fences." (DM & EM)