Experience pays off for Bamako Moriviere

Bamako Moriviere saw off Tombstone in the beginners' chase that got Fairyhouse under way.

The 'big two' drew clear of the remainder on the approach to the second last.

Bamako Moriviere, who led throughout, held a narrow lead jumping that fence and increased it before the last.

The 2/1 second favourite was driven out by Ruby Walsh to account for the 11/10 favourite Tombstone who could make no impression on him on the run-in.

The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths. Mount Beckham picked up third at 50/1, beaten nine and a quarter lengths by the victor.

Willie Mullins said: "Experience and race fitness probably played a huge part in that.

“We're happy to get our beginners out of the way. He's obviously not too bad but it's a long way up the ladder to get to graded company, I think, but we'll see. We'll just have to keep going to the next novice, wherever that is.

“These fences would be a lot bigger than he was jumping down the country. It was a different type of a test but he had race fitness on his side and sometimes you need little advantages.”

This was Tombstone's debut over fences after a career that has yielded two bumper victories and a pair of hurdle wins including at Grade Three level.

Bamako Moriviere got compensation today for falling at the last in a beginners' chase at Listowel in September when well clear.

Gordon Elliott said of Tombstone: "I was delighted with him. Ruby's horse was obviously very match fit but I thought our lad ran a good race.

“He jumped well and he'll be okay.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson