Paul Nolan's Accordion Etoile completed back-to-back wins in the betdaq.com Hurdle at Tipperary today, winning in workmanlike style under John Cullen.
The 161 rated gelding tracked the leaders before making headway from the third last, eventually being driven along by Cullen to lead approaching the final flight.
On the run-in, Accordion Etoile pulled a length and a half clear of outsider Red Square Lady, with Calorando and Ansar close in third and fourth.
Afterwards a relieved Paul Nolan reported 'I'm glad to win a big 'pot' with the horse again this year and we'll make a decision on running in the Galway Hurdle in the next few days.'
'He's a much more relaxed horse this year but does need a lot of work to get fit and will wear a bandage on his off hind leg from now on due to a wart which we removed recently.'
He also revealed 'he has schooled brilliantly over fences and it is a possibility he may run in a novice chase at Galway, instead of the Hurdle.'
The Byrne Handicap Chase (Galway Plate Trial) produced a tight finish with Pat Fahy's Quadco coming out best, under the one and only Ruby.
Afterwards, Fahy reported 'we came here to get him ready for the Galway Plate and he should improve a fair bit from today. Whether or not he'll be good enough for the Plate is another question.'
Pat Tallis' Homegrown followed up a win at Roscommon on Tuesday with another under Seamus Heffernan, in the opening five furlong handicap.
Afterwards, the Co Kilkenny trainer reported 'I didn't know whether she'd have the pace for this trip and she is now a fine broodmare prospect.'
Trainer Michael Halford has a high opinion of his Violani (4/9 favourite) following his narrow win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The winner battled well under Johnny Murtagh inside the final furlong, eventually getting his head in front on the line, for a short head win over Sandton City.
Halford later reported 'he's a gutsy and well put together horse who is crying out for a mile or further. He'll go for a black-type race next and will step up to a mile and a half next year.'
Another horse to narrowly justify long odds-on favouritism was John Oxx's Akram (2/5), who was an easy winner of the Tolpuddle Maiden under Michael Kinane.
Kinane asked the colt to do the bare minimum for his head win and Oxx later mentioned 'he'll go handicap next and the handicapped shouldn't be too hard on us after that.'
Trainer Reggie Roberts received a E1,000 fine, jockey Padraig Beggy a 7 day ban and horse Happy Moments was banned from 42 days when the stewards deemed that the racecourse had been used as a training ground for the 4th placed colt, in the race.
Dermot Weld's Moonlight Dance, a half sister to Grey Swallow and in foal to High Chaparral, ran out an easy winner of the 1m1f handicap under Pat Smullen.
A handicap chase at Galway is a possibility for Joe Crowley's Peruvian Athlete who landed the O'Dwyer Tarmac Handicap Chase under John Allen.
