Cliff House and Shanpallas (Barry Geraghty, right) battle it out© Photo Healy Racing
Shanpallas the heavily backed 11/8 favourite (from 2s on track and much bigger earlier), delivered in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.
Barry Geraghty did the steering in the McManus silks for the Charles Byrnes yard. The Golan gelding chased the leaders and he made a slight mistake two out.
Soon ridden in fourth Shanpallas was second before the straight. He quickly challenged and he edged ahead of Cliff House close home for a half length win.
They left Powersbomb eight lengths back in third.
David Mullins got a fall from Erlkonig at the fourth last and he was replaced by his cousin Danny on Security Breach (a non-runner as it turned out) in the Mayo National. The English Grand National hero has a collarbone injury.
"It was a lovely pot to win - fair play to Ballinrobe. He ran well in Punchestown the last day and he is a summer horse. It would be ideal if we could get something similar for him before Galway, but I haven't really looked at the calendar," said Byrnes.
"Galway is the plan, whether it is the Plate or not I'm not sure yet. They kinda have the measure of him over fences but to get into the Plate he wouldn't want to be rated much lower. He ran well in the Plate last year, he was fifth, and he is entitled to have another crack at it. Rule The World done him no favours in it."
R.C. Colgan, rider of Now This Is It trained by S.R.B. Crawford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.
(DM & EM)
