< Irish Invader enjoyed a bloodless victory in the Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles thanks to the early demise of odds-on favourite Finger Onthe Pulse
Willie Mullins' runner came home an easy 13-length winner under Ruby Walsh after Tom Taaffe's charge, who had run just two days earlier, unseated Paddy Flood at the first fence.
Sharing the lead with Holly Tree Irish Invader (7-4) had too much in hand over the three remaining runners and won unchallenged from Carrigeen King
"I told Ruby to have him up with the pace and not to give Holly Tree an easy lead," said Mullins.
"He jumps so well that we need to make plenty of use of him and he doesn't have that many gears. We'll stick to conditions races around two miles."< Browns Baily (5-1), ridden by Slippers Madden, booked his place at the Cheltenham Festival with a three-and-a-half length call over Hello Kitty in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.
"I think he'll be a good horse when he gets good ground. He'll go now for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham without another run. He should like the uphill finish there," said trainer Mouse Morris.
"He won't be a proper horse until next year."< Bella Mana Mou (6-1) relished the testing conditions when winning the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase under Davy Russell by a distance from My Lord Oscar
"The ground made all the difference to her, she really needs it heavy. We hope to go for another handicap," said trainer Michael Cullen.
The fine run of trainer Dessie Hughes continued thanks to a 48-1 plus double with Flag Of Honour (9-10 favourite) in the Heineken W.T.O'Grady Memorial Hurdle and Baffin Island (25-1) in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.
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