Diamond Cauchois returned to winning ways back at Thurles when taking the 2m7f handicap hurdle on today's card in fine style.

The Sue Bramall-trained gelding had been an impressive winner on his Irish debut at the Tipperary track back in January last year and it was a similar story on his first visit since then.

Andrew Ring produced the 12/1 shot to challenge two from home and he hit the front before the final flight.

The six-year-old powered home on the run-in to record a six-length win over Raz De Maree who had cut out a lot of the running.

“The ground is a massive key to him,” said Ring. “He had been running okay during the year but he just gets caught out in the bigger handicaps.

“He's just not the quickest in the world. On the ground today in lesser company I fancied him and thankfully he obliged.

“He takes a bit of rowing along to get him in full flight but when you get him rolling he's hard to peg back and stays going. He loves that ground.

“He'll jump a fence as well. He hasn't the best technique but he will jump a fence. He always runs to his mark when conditions are right and I think he'll win a couple of chases.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)