Slaney Native's love affair with Thurles was evident once again this afternoon when Jessica Harrington's gelding landed the featured Grade 2 Esat Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase over two-and-a-half miles in the hands of Paul Moloney.
Successful in a bumper over two years ago, his first success under rules, and over hurdles last year at the county Tipperary venue, the gelded son of Be My Native was completing a hat-trick of wins from as many runs at the course.
'He's unbeaten here and seems to like Thurles,' declared Jessica Harrington, who also captured this race with Ferbet Junior two years ago, before she added,' He was a bit slow to start with but got warmed up after a few fences. He's had two quick runs now so I'll give him a little break.'
On future plans for the versatile Slaney Native, who has now won eight times, she added, 'I might put him in the Irish Grand National as he does stay three miles.'
The race lost two of the principal contenders at the fourth last when 3/1 favourite Micko's Dream and Ruby Walsh crashed out bringing down the chasing To Your Honour and Barry Geraghty.
Earlier, Paul Moloney successfully employed front-running tactics aboard Hat Or halo to win the opening Esat Digifone Hurdle. Completing a double for the rider in the process, Moloney's mount scored at the expense of the eye-catching Wild Romance and the bitterly disappointing easy-to-back market leader General Cloney. (4/11-4/7f).
The winner, not ignored in the market (5/1-9/2), was providing Curragh-based permit holder Niall Donohoe with his first training success.
The penultimate flight of the 2m6f novice hurdle played a significant role in the outcome of the contest when Murolook came to grief when about to throw down a challenge to eventual scorer Woodenbridge Native. Trevino, who was pushed along at the time, unseated his rider David Cullinane leaving champion Barry Geraghty to come home unchallenged aboard Noel Meade's 7/4 favourite.
When you see Pat Hughes and Charlie Swan team up together you must take notice and Burrendale Lodge duly obliged under the former champion rider, landing a wholesale gamble in the process, when romping home in the Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle.
Supported from 5/1 to half those odds, Swan bided his time throughout most of the two mile journey before looming up ominously on the approach to the final flight and drawing clear on the run-in, much to the joy of his many supporters among the large crowd.
Spot The Difference survived a terrible blunder five out before staying on well under a determined drive from Pt-to-Pt champion John Thomas McNamara to in the Hunters Chase while 4/6 shot Rose Of Inchiquin turned the novice chase into a procession under Tommy Treacy.
Racing concluded with Edward O'Grady's newcomer Laurier Rose storming home for Philip Fenton in the bumper with odds-on favourite Any News, a big disappointment back in fourth. On future plans O'Grady has nothing fancy on the agenda: 'I bought him at Chantilly last May but he's still a big baby. He will be a nice horse in time and I suppose a winners bumper on March 4th at Leopardstown might be next.'
