Paul Nolan, fresh from his visit to Down Royal which yielded a double on Wednesday, got proceedings off to the perfect start at Thurles yesterday when Tramore bumper scorer Kymandjen opened his account over hurdles in the hands of John Cullen.
After the 7/2 shot stayed on well up to comfortably defeat Polly Native, Nolan remarked, 'He got a knock in front after Tramore and was eased for ten days afterwards. He's a tough horse and we'll keep him over hurdles this season.'
The race was marred when Tony Martin's 14/1 chance Nopolo shattered a hind leg after jumping the fourth flight and was subsequently destroyed.
Cullen later suffered a crashing fall when outsider Bunts Lleep crashed out six fences from home in the Cashel Beginners Chase won by 33/1 shot Aibitir. The Wexford-born rider was taken to hospital and it was later reported that he was 'badly concussed' and has been stood down for seven days.
Although returned 33/1 the Pat O'Connor-trained winner Aibitir was not ignored in the ring with one leading bookmaker laying two bets totalling 300 at 100/1 as well as several further transactions at 50/1. 'That's the way it goes!' he reported.
Favourite backers never had an anxious moment during the 2m handicap hurdle when Charlie Swan steered Lime Supreme to a facile 11L victory. Eamonn 'Dusty' Sheehy, who trains the daughter of Supreme Leader for Margaret Marshall, said, 'She keeps on improving from run to run and she might go for a handicap in Naas or a novice hurdle, depending on what handicapper Noel O'Brien thinks.'
Paul Carberry was lucky to escape serious injury when his mount Soundz Of Music was hampered forcing the champion rider out of the plate in the early stages. The Meathman was slow to get to his feet and eventually limped away. He was stood down for the remainder of the session.
Ruby Walsh and his father Ted teamed up to win the 2m handicap chase when light-weight Micksie Palmer scored by a diminishing 1 1/2L from The Moyne Machine resulting in a Jackpot Rollover of 1,448 to the venue on 27th Feb.
Michael Hourigan, who reported his stable-star Beef Or Salmon 'in great form' saddled Dromhale Lady to win the 2m2f handicap chase while Eric Mcnamara saddled the winner of the finale when Celtic Son scored by six lengths.
