Trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend completed an opening races double at Naas today as Sandsend narrowly won the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle on his second Irish start.

The grey son of Turgeon was dropping down in trip having been a beaten favourite at Limerick over Christmas and, having settled much better today, eventually had enough in reserve to grind out a win and pass front-runner Forge Meadows close home, for a neck win.

Mullins later commented “he's settled a good bit since his run in Limerick where he was keen. Probably dropping back to two miles suited him better as they went a right good gallop.

“He's a fine big galloping horse, and could be nice over fences.

"It was only his third (career) run, and he was very inexperienced against the horses he was meeting there. To be able to do that with the experience he had was very good. He should improve hugely from that and can go up a grade."

The Champion Trainer, fashionably late for the opening race, added “Sayo had a lot of traffic problems and put up an impressive display considering he didn't jump well from the third last. He'll improve from that."

Regarding yesterday's impressive hurdles winner Laurina, he added "Tramore didn't tell us much but the opposition yesterday was a lot more informative. She looks like she could be a little bit special. I don't think the ground matters to her.

"She has size and scope which is very hard to get in a mare. She's a fine big mare that could jump a fence when she's ready to do that."

Paddy Power bookmakers subsequently cut Sandsend to 10/1 (from 14s) for the Coral Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Quotes from Alan Magee