Many of the fancied horses were to the fore in the Happy Christmas From Everyone At Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle (DIV I) with 9/2 second favourite Se Mo Laoch coming out on top.

He did this well too, for trainer Brian McMahon, prevailing by three and a quarter lengths in the hands of Eoin Mahon, from Sporty Yankee

Market-leader Mlily ended up a length back in third.

Se Mo Laoch made most and ridden clear before the last the eight-year-old stayed on well inside the final furlong for victory.

Well-handicapped in this sphere, the win of Se Mo Laoch prompted Mahon to say: "This horse has been good to me. He’s very very consistent and all last year he’s hardly been out of the money.

“The last day over hurdles he made a bad mistake at the second last and it cost him. He got into a lovely rhythm today and won snugly.

“He’s probably a better chaser and just needed a clear round of jumping over hurdles. He’ll probably keep mixing it between hurdles and fences.

“I’m 23 and riding in point-to-points for the last four or five years. It’s only really last year that got me going and in fairness to the lads in Clare like Brian (McMahon) and Aengus King and Derek and Pauric O’Connor - they are very good to me.”

(AM & EM)