Review THURLES 27th Mar

Serpentaria (9-2) made a promising start to her timber career in the Urlingford Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

Useful at around two miles on the Flat when with Sir Mark Prescott, Davy Condon made use of his mount's undoubted stamina when kicking into a clear lead on the long run to three out.

Maximo went in pursuit but the chase was in vain because Serpentaria quickened again before the last and crossed the line with 10 lengths to spare over the staying-on Global Position.

Front Man needed every yard of the two-and-a-half-mile trip, but eventually got his head in front in the Holy Cross Maiden Hurdle.

Liz Lalor dictated terms to suit herself on Carrigeen King, but her mount couldn't match the superior stamina of the 5-2 joint-favourite, who was under pressure from some way out but responded to the urgings of Davy Russell to score by one and a quarter lengths.

Russell doubled up when Burren Ben (6-4 favourite) beat McAlpine by 20 lengths in the Cashel Beginners Chase.

Brandam made his bid for glory a long way from home in the Clonoulty Handicap Hurdle, but the move proved decisive and the Dusty Sheehy-trained 10-1 chance held the challenge of Le Sparnacien by a length and three quarters.

Lukie Victor confirmed the promise of his previous fencing efforts with an emphatic win in the Templemore Beginners Chase.

Sent off the 9-4 favourite after finishing in the money on both starts over the bigger obstacles, he jumped left at the second-last but still landed in front and showed a nice turn of foot when clearing away to beat Leanne by five and a half lengths.

Battle Axe (10-1) shed his maiden tag in no uncertain terms at the 18th attempt, coasting home by 14 lengths from Cochise in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.

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