Review THURLES 15TH FEB

Katie Walsh excelled on Parrot Cay to secure her first winner over hurdles at a muddy Thurles on Thursday.

The gelding, trained by her father Ted and owned by her mother Helen, was delivered with a perfectly timed challenge to get up close home in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.

The 10/1 shot made ground on the outer in the straight and jumped the last upsides Ballycullen Boy, finding a bit extra close home to score by a neck.

'I've had him four years and he's had a few problems. He has a patient owner!' said Ted Walsh. 'That's Katie's first winner over hurdles so it's great.'

Brother Ruby was also on the mark when giving Templers Hall (11/10f) a strong drive to get home in the Horse And Jockey Handicap Chase.

Grangehill Dancer appeared to be travelling best into the straight but Walsh forced Willie Mullins' charge up to challenge and he found more after the last to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

'We'll find a few more races here for him - it's a place he likes,' said Mullins. 'I might go back and find a hurdle race for him.'

Ruby later teamed up with his father when riding Bryansford Belle in the mares beginners chase but the 7/2f was collared on the run-in by Sea Diva, who scored by a length-and-three-quarters.

The testing conditions didn't seem to inconvenience Jog On, who ran out an impressive winner of the Clonoulty Handicap Hurdle.

Davy Russell brought the Pat Fahy-trained gelding wide into the straight for the better ground and he bounded clear after the second last to score by seven lengths from Moving On.

'He took a while to come to himself. He seemed to come here very well today and thankfully proved it,' said Fahy. 'He's a gross horse and should still improve from that.'

The Noel Meade-trained Goldfinger was also a cosy winner when making all in the opening Urlingford Maiden Hurdle.

Paul Carberry got to work on his mount at the second last and could afford to ease down close home for a five-length victory after seeing off his rivals before the last.

8/11f Salt Lake faded to fourth after looking a danger turning in.

'The blinkers made a big difference,' commented Meade's partner Gillian O'Brien afterwards.

20/1 shot Sonnyanjoe finished strongly to claim the Littleton Handicap Hurdle under David Flannery.

The gelding, who paid 34/1 on the Tote, was produced to lead at the last and stayed on strongly to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Just Naturally.

Sophocles sprinted away in the closing stages to run out an impressive eight-length winner of the bumper under Pauline Ryan.

The James Leavy-trained winner could now be aimed at the Cheltenham bumper. Cashmans have him a quote of 25/1.