Placed on all three starts in bumpers for Willie Mullins, bargain buy Skyace made a winning start for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon in the TippraryRaces.ie Maiden Hurdle.

With 8/13 shot Thunder Down Under ‘cutting out’ quickly from the third last, the way was left clear for something to put their stamp on this three miler up the straight.

He’s by Australia out of Peeping Fawn so he certainly wasn’t bred for this assignment, but Desert Island gave it his best over the closing flights of hurdles.

However 600 pound purchase Skyace was travelling smoothly for Jody McGarvey and once safely out over the last the Westerner mare went on to triumph by three and three parts of a length.

Hanlon explained: "I bought that mare out of Willie's (Mullins) for 600 quid; she was behind my horse Dime A Dozen twice, and I went over to the Sales to buy her. I couldn't believe I bought her for that sort of money. I don't know why she was so cheap, she had no injury and was 100 percent.

"The crowd who own her (Birdinthehand Syndicate) are from America.

"She jumped like a buck today but it was probably the worst three-mile maiden hurdle I've seen for a long long time, once you took the favourite Thunder Down Under (pulled up) out of it.

"We'll go for a handicap mark or look for a conditions' race next.

"Camlann was the last horse I had which cost 600 quid; unfortunately he broke down yesterday and more than likely will now be retired."

D.N. Russell, rider of Thunder Down Under, trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was pulled up lame.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Thunder Down Under, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame on it's right fore post race.

(TW & EM)