Fitz much the best in Grade 2 Istabraq Hurdle

He may not have always been super slick at his flights but that couldn't detract from another quality performance from Rebel Fitz as he landed odds of 30/100 under Barry Geraghty in the Grade 2 Istabraq Hurdle at Tipperary.

Mick Winters' star chased second favourite Darwins Fox through this two miler and he took over at the second last.

From soon after there was only going to be one outcome and the now eighteen time winner, victorious on this card last year in the novice chase, went on to triumph comfortably by four and a half lengths.

In this five runner affair The Game Changer was third home, two and three parts of a length adrift.

"It was his first time jumping since he got his injury so every day you're a bit anxious," acknowledged Winters.

He added: "He came out of the race great the last day though and he looked very well coming in there so hopefully he's fine again.

"He's very popular and he's giving a lot of fun to an awful lot of people. I'd say we had another big following here from Kanturk today.

"He's getting old now so maybe himself and Sizing Europe could have a race between the two of them at Christmas (Leopardstown).

"We'll take it easy for a couple of weeks now and we'll see what's there but really it's Christmas next I'd say.

"He'll probably run once in the meantime but I didn't really look beyond today.

"His mark is 155 and if we keep picking races like this we might go back to Galway next year.

"It would make up for missing it this year." (TW & EM)