Laughing Trix toughest over three miles in Fairyhouse

Laughing Trix grabbed her first victory over fences when staying on best in the three mile handicap chase at Fairyhouse. Fr Gilligansvoyge set sail for home turning in with two fences to negotiate.

The Yeats gelding moved clear after the second last and appeared to have the race at his mercy, however, the revs stalled approaching the last as Lauging Trix and Paddy O'Hanlon closed right up on him.

The eight-year-old mare collared him on the run-in and kept on strongly to score by two and a half lengths at 11/1 (from 14s). Vodka Society kept on for second at 66/1 and was half a length in front of Moyode Lady (16/1). Shar Whats Therush completed the placings in fourth at 10/1.

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin said: “The mare stays well and jumps well. She was unlucky a couple of times to run into one or two over hurdles but she's a nice mare going forward.

“She stays and that's half the battle. We fancied her today, we thought the last day when Paddy got off her that she was crying out for a fence and the ground is a big key to her as well.”

Laughing Trix had previously won a point-to-point at Tattersalls Farm and a handicap hurdle at Downpatrick in October last year.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson