Tom Ryan has been in great form recently and the leading conditional was seen at his best when getting Native Beat up in the Powers Ulster National at Downpatrick yesterday.
Ryan was hard at work from a long way out on John Fowler's gelding, and looked held, before staying on well to peg back the leaders over the last two to lead on the run-in and score by a length from Berkley.
'He was under pressure the whole way but he just keeps pulling out for you,' said Ryan, who was partnering his tenth winner in a fortnight. The winner could now head for the cross-country event at Cheltenham.
Robert Dunne ended a long wait for his first winner when landing the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle aboard Maswaly.
The conditional, who is attached to Arthur Moore's yard, broke his duck when driving Maswaly to the front up the hill to get the better of Missindependence by two lengths. 6/4f Panaconi fell at the last when still in command.
Ocras Mor was a convincing winner of the Morning Star Belfast EBF Mares Novice Hurdle under Denis O'Regan. The Suzanne-Cox trained mare cruised into the lead after the last flight and sprinted clear to beat long-time leader Gaelic Scholar by eight lengths.
'She's been brilliant for us. Since she got her head in front she's been flying,' said Cox.
Pat Fahy and Ruby Walsh have a great strike rate when teaming up and No Rows (5/4 to 4/6f) was well backed when scoring in the Polly Homes Handicap Hurdle.
Walsh produced the gelding to lead after the last and kept him up to his work to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Lady Kamando.
Davy Russell produced the riding performance of the day when jumping the last with just one iron aboard How Is Things before driving the mare to a half-length victory over Hookedonafeeling in the EBF Tattersalls Mares Novice Chase.
Big Zoomo made all the running to take the Jimble At Balloo Stud Hunters Chase.
