Supporters of the Noel Meade stable endured a day of mixed fortunes at the final meeting before Christmas at Thurles yesterday.
Poulakerry, a bumper winner at Tralee during the summer, ran out a narrow winner of the Killough INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle (Div 1) with Paul Carberry having to be at his strongest to get the 4 to 5 favourite home by a head from outsider Julies Boy.
However, Star Clipper, the Meade runner in the Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle, was a well-supported 4/9 favourite but failed to recover from a terrible mistake at the fourth hurdle and could only finish third to Brave Thought and Cregg House.
Adrian Lane, who rode Brave Thought, was suspended for a single day for careless riding after the winner drifted badly left in the closing stages and slightly hampered Cregg House in the process.
Favourite backers were again dealt a cruel pre-Christmas blow when Irish Tzar failed to figure at any stage in the latter division of the Killough INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle before being pulled at the second last flight by Norman Williamson.
Rupununi was another fancied runner to perform below expectations as the locally-trained Milford Rose outbattled Larkhill Jo from the last to win by half a length for jockey Martin Mooney.
The Tony Martin-trained Bizet returned from a 42-day suspension to win the Moycarkey Handicap Hurdle. Martin found himself in hot water with the Stewards at Down Royal last month where he was fined e1,000 and banned for 21 days when he rode the gelding to finish fourth behind Mister Felix.
Bizet, backed from 7/4 to 1/1 favourite, never came off the bridle as he won by three and a half lengths from Star Accord under Ruby Walsh.
Rattothetattat, who had run well over hurdles at the course last Wednesday, scored his first success when winning the Gift Horse Gallery Horse & Jockey Hotel Handicap Chase.
John Joe Walsh's six-year-old took advantage of a final fence error by Jamica Plane to lead early on the run-in and was ridden out by Kieran Gaule to win by two and a half lengths.
Philip Carberry enjoyed a welcome chance of luck when he partnered 11 to 4 favourite Future Strike to an easy two length sucess in the Holy Cross Novice Hurdle.
His brother Paul added to his earlier success when landing the Molony Cup Handicap Chase on Enda Bolger's Shady Lad, a 7 to 1 chance.
