Grangeclare West availed of a drop in class to win the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle under Paul Townend.

Unplaced in his previous two runs in Grade 1 company, it was a different story today.

Paul Townend kept it simple off the front over this extended 2m3f and, although the seven-year-old over-raced a tad, his jumping was exemplary.

The 6/4 favourite was passed into the home straight by De Capo Glory with Tag Man a close third, however, Grangeclare West rallied to lead at the last and jumped it much the better than De Capo Glory.

He was driven out by Townend to score by four and a-quarter lengths from the 11/1 runner-up. Imagine got up for third, some five lengths back, at 9/4.

“I'm very happy with that performance. He's a decent horse who is improving, he had a little setback during the year so it's great to get compensation on a day like today,” said Willie Mullins.

“He had been doing everything right. I think if things had done right for him during the season he wouldn't have been qualified for that race, he would have been better than that.

“He'll be one for novice chases next year, but we might go to France with him as he missed part of the season and he could go for something like the French Champion Hurdle.

“He'll stay the trip and he may as well get a bit of practice jumping French hurdles.”

Townend added: "Nice to see this lad back on a bit of spring ground, I think he appreciated it.

"When he won his maiden, I was mad about him. He kind of fell apart a bit, but he looks to be back on the right track now.

"He was (a bit keen early), we got worked up at the start. I thought it was hugely unfair to hold us that long down at the start on a warm day like that. He hasn't run in a while either, so he was a bit fresh in my hands early on. Thankfully, he overcame it.

"From the fourth-last, to be honest I was conscious to just keep trying to fill him up. They were pushing me but I was trying to go with them and hang on to them until I got well down into the straight.

"He did take a blow but once he took that, he galloped on well and his jumping is his main asset."

The Raceday Stewards enquired into the circumstances whereby Imagine (FR) and Perfect Attitude (GB), both trained by Gordon Elliott, had to be re-weighed and re-saddled prior to this race resulting in a thirteen minute delay to the start. Evidence was heard from Gordon Elliott who admitted that the wrong saddles were placed on the wrong horses by a staff member. He added that he was not present at the time of saddling but accepted full responsibility for the error and apologised for the inconvenience caused. Having considered evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that Gordon Elliott was in breach of Rule 148(i) and having taken his clean record into consideration, fined him €500.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson