The Joseph O'Brien-trained Darasso pulled away in fine style to give weight and a beating to his rivals in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas. Felix Desjy made it a strong gallop in the race, run over just shy of two miles, and had a healthy advantage before coming back to his field three from home.

4/5 favourite Saint Felicien came to claim the front-runner going to the second last but was followed through by Darasso, who made a slight mistake at the flight.

The JP McManus-owned gelding jumped into a narrow lead at the last and galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-quarter length success.

Saint Felicien held the runner-up spot by half-a-length from Whiskey Sour

It was a tenth career success for the French import Darasso who was adding to previous Grade 2 and Grade 3 wins over hurdles and a Grade 2 success over fences.

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said:- “He’s been such a consistent horse over the years and that’s put him over 300 grand in prizemoney. He keeps turning up in all these top races and getting placed.

“Mark said the faster they went the better. He missed the second last a bit and he had to get him racing again but he jumped the last well and went away.

“He’s just so consistent whether it is hurdles or fences and such a star to have in the yard. If you have a horse that tries like him he’s going to keep doing it for you.

“He’s been to Cheltenham the last couple of years but whether he goes there again I’ll leave that to Joseph.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)