Like William Du Berlais in the first it's been all the way at Kilbeggan for Airlie Beach and she was very good again to remain unbeaten after three starts in the Joe Cooney Memorial Mares Novice Hurdle.

Mark Bolger tried to put it to the 1/3 winner in the back straight on his mount, Billy's Hope

However the victorious Shantou mare is full of talent and she breezed away from that rival from between the last two.

Indeed Billy's Hope paid for those aforementioned efforts in the three runner heat, eventually losing out by half a length for second to Jaime Sommers

The Willie Mullins-trained and Paul Townend-ridden Airlie Beach had twenty three lengths in hand at the finish.

"She was having a good look around in front," commented Townend.

"She was professional when Mark came upsides me and was good over the two up the back.

"I had loads of horse to go with Mark and hold my position on the inside. I wish they were all that straight-forward.

"She's doing everything right and is unbeaten. I think she keeps a bit for herself but that's not a bad thing."

(GC & EM)