Therellalwaysbeone delights Fitzgerald

Therellalwaysbeone travelled all over his rivals before landing the first division of the extended two mile six handicap hurdle in Ballinrobe.

He tanked into the lead three out under Cathal Landers and soon took a couple of lengths out of the field.

He was still lobbing away on the bridle between the final two flights. Landers asked him to go about his business after the last and the 9/2 shot kept on to see off Final Orders (14/1) by a length and three parts.

Nothing else came out of the pack and it Christmas Jumper (11/2) who got third, some eight lengths away.

Trainer Barry Fitzgerald said: “That’s just his second run for me and he’s really improved. He’s a 10-year-old but hopefully he’ll improve again and the change of scenery has probably helped him a lot.

"I’d like to thank Michael O’Dowd (owner) for giving me the horse. I’d be hopeful that he can win another one if the handicapper is not too hard on us.

“He handles most ground although he wouldn’t go on firm ground. Good ground or softer is fine for him."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan