Easy for Ivan in the Istabraq Hurdle

Ivan Grozny ran out an easy winner of the Grade 2 Istabraq Hurdle, making all under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins.

An comfortable victor of a Grade 3 contest over the course and distance on his penultimate start, the son of Turtle Bowl followed-up on his next outing on the level at Galway.

Available at 11/8 in early betting shows, that price didn't last long, and he eventually went off the clear 2/5 favourite.

Sent straight to the front by Walsh, he never saw another rival, and he was pushed out on the run-in to see off Bentelimar by four and three parts of a length.

The runner-up was returned at 9/1 under Danny Mullins for Shay Barry. Hargam who was as short as 7/4 in early shows, opened on-course at 3's before going off an 11/4 chance. The Nicky Henderson trained grey never looked like winning, and finished eleven lengths back in third.

Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "He just ran away with me and kept going! He was a bit fresher today and hasn't ran in a while.

"The ground gets softer and it gets harder as you're trying to go slower but he jumped super and had enough in the tank to keep going."

Regarding possible winter plans, he added: "I can't see him going to the field anyway!"

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards fined Mrs S.A. Bramall, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Peppino (FR), in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.

A. Ring, rider of Peppino (FR) trained by Mrs S.A. Bramall, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes