Champion trainer Willie Mullins sprung a major surprise in the Ballyhale Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park when he won the race with unconsidered 50-1 shot Tango Banbou
Disappointing in two runs over fences since arriving from France, including when pulled up at the beginning of the month, the five-year-old was allowed a big lead in the early part of the race.
All efforts to reel him in proved fruitless as the testing ground took its toll in the closing stages, and Emmet Mullins kept him going to beat Touch Back by five and a half lengths.
The stable had already notched up a winner with Loch Ard who made a promising start to his jumps career when fourth in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse last month and had no trouble building on that in the Spring Team Classic Final 2012 At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle.
Paul Townend rode a supremely confident race, leaving it to the last flight to challenge for the lead, and the 4-7 favourite eased away to score by two and three-quarter lengths.< Its The Ice I Like was sent off at evens favourite for the Goresbridge Maiden Hurdle on the back of three placed efforts and got his head in front this time.
Philip Enright was clearly going best coming down the straight on Robert Tyner's gelding and sent him past long-time leader Are Ya Right Chief at the last to win by two lengths.
There were plenty in with a chance turning for home in the www.gowranpark.ie Handicap Hurdle but the two who fought out the finish were Ghareer (7-1) and Forty Foot Tom with Paddy Mangan getting the former home by half a length for the John Morrison yard.
Jessie Harrington's Pontiac (13-2) made all under Robbie Power for a comfortable victory in the Bagenalstown Beginners Chase, while the Francis Flood-trained Shellys Creek (20-1) took the Paulstown Handicap Chase in the hands of Shane Jackson.
