Webster wins on return

Noah Webster was friendless on his return to action in the Galway City & Salthill Publicans Handicap Hurdle but defied the drift in the market to run out a convincing winner.

Robbie Power got a lovely split on the rail going to the final flight on the Aidan O'Brien-trained gelding and he jumped the last in contention.

The JP McManus-owned gelding, sent off a 16/1 shot having traded at 7/1 this morning, stuck at his task well on the run-in to post a four-length success. She's A Leader chased him home with 5/1 favourite Portrade back in third.

The winner was making his first start since pulling up at Gowran Park in March.

“Being fresh is the key to him. He won first time out at Naas last year but was a bit disappointing after that. He did the job well in the end today,” said Power afterwards.

The winning jockey was another to praise today's ground:- “They've done a good job on the ground today. It was a bit too quick yesterday for jumping.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)