It's well over three years since Balynaclash Warior registered his previous win, at the Listowel festival in 2013. He benefited from a confident J J Slevin steer to take the honours in the Templemore Handicap Hurdle at Thurles today.

Mark Walsh waited for as long as he could on the sweet-travelling favourite, Neddyvaughan

Slevin could afford to wait even longer on Richie Rath's Balynaclash Warior, and he swamped Neddyvaughan on the run-in for a length and a half win.

"He got badly injured two years ago and is back now," said Rath.

"I said to Ger (Corrigan, owner) the last day to try him over two miles on soft ground but to be fair Ger wanted to run today and I was iffing and butting because of the ground - he was right though so I'll have to give him that one!

"He's a 0-102 handicapper and will stick to that handicapping."

(TW & EM)