Acapella Bourgeois and Ruby Walsh survive a mistake at the final hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
< Acapella Bourgeois (5-2) carried on a fine tradition in the At The Races Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles.
His trainer Sandra Hughes won this Grade Two prize 12 months ago, and her late father Dessie saddled the winner the previous three years.
Acapella Bourgeois made the running in the hands of Ruby Walsh but his last-flight blunder gave supporters of Nambour some hope.
However, Hughes' inmate still had lots to give and pulled away again to prevail by five lengths.< Uranna had been beaten at short prices on her two previous outings over fences but put the record straight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
Walsh was always to the fore on the 4-7 favourite and didn't have to resort to the whip to see off Missyspet by seven and a half lengths.
Walsh seemed set to go in again when producing Tennis Cap with a well-timed challenge in the Thurles Racecourse Rated Chase.
However, Lord Scoundrel (9-4) wasn't to be denied in the hands of Bryan Cooper and the Gordon Elliott-trained novice ran right the way to the line to score by a length and a half.
Walsh was in the thick of the action again in the Killinan Maiden Hurdle, falling at the last when seemingly in command on Union Dues allowing 11-8 favourite Hurricane Darwin to come through to beat Taras Call by 12 lengths.< Sonny B bounced back to form in the Littleton Handicap Hurdle.
The 14-1 shot had shown precious little in this sphere and over fences this campaign, but quickened smartly between the last two and despite being a little less than fluent over the final flight, kept going to account for Positive Approach by two and a quarter lengths.< Lets High Five It (12-1) came out on top in the Tipperary (Lady Riders) Handicap Hurdle under Rachael Blackmore, while the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race went the way of Socksy (16-1).
