The words of winning rider Mattie Bowes summed things up well when he remarked: "I thought he was in trouble four out as they started to edge away from me and I gave him a couple of reminders.

"I thought I might be placed jumping the last but then everything in front of me stopped. He's very genuine and he stayed on well."

Bowes wasn't giving himself any credit for grabbing the rail (on the inner of Fairly Definite – she looked a likely scorer) up the run-in and that was a brave and crucial move as the eight-year-old victor went on to win by three parts of a length in the Coola Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan. Cheek-pieces failed to have the desired effect on Kilflora and that fellow again flattered to deceive and he had to settle for third.

Bowes also said of the Oliver Brady-trained Rita Shah-owned Imperial Shabra "he deserved that," and who could argue with that as tonight was his fourth win from no less than sixty six efforts.

Disappointing market-leader Crocus Bay was found to be lame. (GC & EM)