Sorrento makes all under Cooper for Meade

The Noel Meade trained Clara Sorrento made all to win the La Touche Restaurant Rated Novice Hurdle.

Having got off the mark over flights on his fifth start at Clonmel in March, the French bred gelding was well-beaten on his next outing at Navan, before putting in fine efforts in defeat on his next two runs in handicap company.

Backed from 10/3 to 5/2 on-course today, the grey victor was sent straight to the front by Bryan Cooper.

He wasn't fluent over three out, and was pushed along and pressed on the approach to the straight. However he kept on well when ridden after the last, and came home four and a quarter lengths to the good. Westland Row (8/1), who travelled best entering the straight, couldn't peg back the winner once ridden from the last, and he ultimately had to settle for second under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott.

The favourite Sword Fighter who was backed from 9/4 this morning and from evens to 10/11 on-course, finished a disappointing fourth under Mark Walsh for Joseph O'Brien.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "He said he didn't quicken but he kept galloping.

"He said he loved the ground and even found it a little bit slow for him. He said he'd like it even quicker.

"He seems to have gotten over the hanging that he did that day in Fairyhouse, whatever was wrong with him.

"We'll continue on for the summer. When you win a maiden hurdle it's hard to win the next one. It's nice to win a novice race with him.

"I'd say the way he ran here at the festival there is a handicap in him. It was just too short for him and he didn't get into it. He came home like a lion.

"Summer ground is the key to him. When we ran him in Navan over two six we thought he didn't stay but it wasn't that he didn't stay it was just that he just couldn't handle the soft ground and got legless in it."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson