Ballychorus and Adrian Heskin© Photo Healy Racing
< Ballychorus boosted her confidence with a workmanlike triumph in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.
Adrian Heskin dictated terms to suit himself on the 2-5 favourite and despite a couple of unfortunate experiences on her previous couple of outings, Ballychorus jumped with aplomb.
She was pressed by Emcon down the back for the final time and they swung for home locked together, but the market leader asserted on the run to the final obstacle and stayed on well for a nine-length verdict.
Red-hot favourite Kayf Supreme did what was expected of him in the Ballycahill Beginners Chase.
Well clear of his rivals on official ratings & ndash; as his odds of 2-11 reflected, Jim Dreaper's charge was always prominent in the hands of Davy Russell and coasted home 17 lengths clear of Kansas City Chief < Burgas (4-6) was another odds-on shot to get the job done, this time in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Third on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse, Willie Mullins' French import took a significant step forward and having been in the front rank throughout, didn't have to work too hard to see off Mr Antolini by nine and a half lengths.
His jockey Bryan Cooper followed up in the same Gigginstown House Stud colours when Road To Respect finally broke his jumping duck in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.
Sent off the 8-11 favourite to atone for a costly failure at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, he pulled his way to the front quite early on but still had enough in the tank when challenged by Inch Rise after the last to prevail by a length.
Mullins registered a double of his own when Augustin claimed the Munster Flat Race.< Garrai Phaidin (14-1) appeared to have the measure of nearest pursuer Milanesque when that one crashed out at the last in the Rock Of Cashel Handicap Chase, and he came home 16 lengths ahead of Notification while Go It Alone (7-1) made his handicap debut a winning one in the Killinan Handicap Hurdle.
