After finishing second with Duke Cass earlier on the card, Donagh Meyler and Karl Thornton went one place better with Manuka in the Sean Rothwell Construction Handicap Hurdle.

Successful in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel, and a handicap on the level last winter, the seven-year-old son of Galileo was stepping up in trip to three miles for the first time today.

Available at 8/1 last night, the seven-year-old chestnut opened on-course at 7's before going off a 6/1 chance in the colours of owner David O'Rourke.

Settled in mid-division, he took closer order from five out, and gained a narrow lead after the third last.

He was ridden after the next, and kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by four and a half lengths. Irish Bulletin ran his best race for a while, finishing second at 20/1 under Barry Geraghty for Eric McNamara, while Night Generation (8/1) was half a length back in third under Bryan Cooper for Noel Meade. Clontarf was sent off the 3/1 favourite (from 6's last night and from 4's on-course), and he finished fifth under Keith Donoghue for Dermot McLoughlin.