France to the fore at Ballybrit

Vive La France arrived from France in 2013 with a decent reputation and it came together for him on start number eight in Ireland for Barry Connell, Tony Martin and Adrian Heskin in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at Galway.

The 14/1 chance got a patient steer from Heskin, making his ground two out before going on for an easy six length win over The Plan Man Tony Martin also trains that runner-up.

"Today everything fell right for him and hopefully he can improve off it. As a young horse he was doing too much the whole time but the penny is really after dropping now and we're delighted with where he is," said Heskin.

"Those valuable handicap hurdles will be the road for him now. Tony and the lads have done a great job settling him."

(TW & EM)