Walsh lands treble on Sword

Mark Walsh recorded a quick double in the JP McManus colours, and a treble on the day, when Sword Fish claimed the 3m1f handicap chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Christy Roche's charge tracked the leaders in the stamina test before moving up to challenge four from home.

Walsh still hadn't asked his mount a question as he pressed leader Thelobstercatcher going to the final fence.

He sent him on after the last and he galloped on well in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-quarter success.

4/1 joint-favourite Forever Gold crashed out at the last when staying on in third while the other market leader Montana Slim inherited his position but couldn't make any impression on the front two.

"Mark said it enjoyed it (ground), said racing manager Frank Berry afterwards.

"That made up for the last day when he just got chinned. He's been pretty consistent all season.

"We'll try and find something like that again. He seemed to cope with the ground better than he used to."

Berry also had praise for the winning rider, who currently leads the jockeys standings:-

"Mark is riding with a lot of confidence and that comes with riding good horses."

Walsh had taken the previous beginners chase on Noble Emperor and had also struck earlier in the mares maiden hurdle on Missyspet

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)