A more fluent jump over the last by Foildubh (inside) proves decisive © Photo Healy Racing
All eyes were on Rubi Ball as he made his Irish debut in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle, but the Willie Mullins trained gelding was upstaged by Foildubh who scored at the odds of 7/2 under Paul Carberry for John Ryan.
Settled in second, the winning nine-year-old son of Woods Of Windsor took over in front after the sixth flight, relegating Rubi Ball (sent off the 1/2 favourite) into second.
As they entered the straight for the final time, the duo had it between them, and they jumped the second last together.
Rubi Ball wasn’t fluent at the last, and this handed the initiative to Foildubh, and he was driven out on the run-in to score by head.
The runner-up railed again in the closing stages, but he couldn’t peg back the winner, and had to settle for second under Ruby Walsh, while Seefood was five and a half lengths back in third under Bryan Cooper.
John Ryan said afterwards: "He is definitely a much better horse than last year, he is way stronger. He missed the last two fences in Clonmel.
"We will probably go for the Lexus next, although it will depend on if we can get Paul, because we will probably only run him when we can have him.
"The step up to three mile will be no problem as he has got loads of stamina."
Willie Mullins added on Rubi Ball: "He will probably be better going left-handed. He probably found the ground a bit too good.
"All his best form is on heavy ground, and he didn’t have much respect for his hurdles, but at least he ran a race."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
