Monbeg Rose and Bryan Cooper © Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins looks to have another smart mare to go to war with after Monbeg Rose created a deep impression in the Gift Horse Gallery Horse & Jockey Hotel Mares Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.
An impressive winner between the flags in January, the daughter of Beneficial disappointed on her debut under Rules in a Tipperary bumper but made no mistake on her hurdles bow.
The recipient of a confident Bryan Cooper ride, the 3-1 chance beat useful form yardstick Myztique by three and a half lengths.
In the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, Mullins' hot-pot Haymount was turned over by Patrick Kelly's Mall Dini (7-2).
The dual point-to-point scorer and Cork bumper winner was no match for Yorkhill at Punchestown earlier this month but made it fourth time lucky over timber under Davy Russell.< Seabass caused an upset at odds of 20-1 when rolling back the years in the David O'Halloran Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle.
The Ted Walsh-trained, Katie Walsh-ridden 12-year-old finished third in the 2012 Grand National at Aintree and was right back to his best to beat Just Cause by six lengths.
Gordon Elliott didn't leave empty handed though, courtesy of Desoto County s success in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Having his first run since leaving Donald McCain's stable, the 11-10 favourite appreciated the fitting of a tongue tie and beat Cliff House by one-and-three-quarter lengths under Jack Kennedy.
There was plenty of market support for Teelin Star in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, but it was bottom weight Ard Cregg (13-2) who foiled that gamble under a patient Stephen Gray ride, as Val O'Brien's charge outstayed the aforementioned Liz Doyle inmate to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Elsewhere, Aunt Nora (14-1) put her recent Punchestown mishap well behind when readily accounting for Coolnagorna Giggs in the Molony Cup Handicap Chase, and it was another Mullins favourite that was beaten in the Curaheen (Pro/Am) Flat Race - won impressively by Jessica Harrington's New To This Town (11-1).
