< Oulart finally broke his duck over fences when he responded to Roger Loughran's hard driving to battle to victory in the www.hacketts.ie Handicap Chase.
The race was run in a downpour and Oulart (15-2), who made all, was under pressure a long way out as the challengers queued up to have a go at him.
The Dessie Hughes-trained nine-year-old, who finished second in the Irish Grand National two years ago, simply would not be denied and held off Professor Muldoon by four lengths. He goes for the Kerry National next.< Khazar was a comfortable winner of the Kevin Cooke (C&G) Maiden Hurdle under Niall Madden.
The 9-2 shot was always prominent in the two-mile contest and was one of three in line as they jumped the second-last, along with Beneath The Radar and City Of New York
Khazar, running in the familiar JP McManus colours, was nudged into the lead approaching the final flight and with the other two toiling, went on to score by nine lengths without having to exert himself.
David Kiely looked to have found a perfect opportunity for Finisk Rose in the Loughanure Mares Maiden Hurdle and so it proved, the 6-4 favourite scoring with the minimum of fuss.
Ruby Walsh had the four-year-old well in contention with a circuit to go and moved up to take the lead approaching the second-last flight.< Mrs Diniver tried to make a race of it, but Finisk Rose popped over the last two and the jockey was able to take a glance over his shoulder as he eased clear for an 11-length success.< Duroob (20-1), who unseated when hampered at Galway last weekend, bounced back to land a gutsy victory in the D&S Hardware 10th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle.
The Oliver Brady-trained six-year-old was one of four who jumped the second-last virtually together in the three-mile slog, but he proved strongest and went clear after the final flight under Matthew Bowes to win by eight lengths.
© www.irish-racing.com
