What a performance from McCoy & Alderwood

Alderwood leads over the last from Allure Of Illusion at Fairyhouse
(Healy Racing Photos)

McCoy made his intentions clear from the start aboard Tom Mullins' County Hurdle hero and Alderwood responded with a great round of hurdling from the front. Favourite, Steps To Freedom went in pursuit in the straight but it was soon apparent he wasn't going to bridge the gap as Allure Of Illusion then gave chase. Alderwood pulled out plenty on the run-in to win well by three and a quarter lengths at the line. The mare Jacksonslady ran well to finish third.

McManus, earlier a winner with Get Me Out Of Here in the opener, said: "Any winner of a County Hurdle has to be respected back in novice company and in fairness to Tom and his team they had him looking particularly well for today."

Tom Mullins said: "They can bounce after Cheltenham but half-an-hour after his run there it was like he didn't have a race. I was confident enough therefore that he wasn't feeling the effects of it.

"Tony (McCoy) was very worried about the pace early on so he elected to go on. I was delighted to see the rain coming today too.

"That was a similar run to Cheltenham but he was really at his best over there. Punchestown is on the agenda but he gave a good hard blow after that so we'll just have to wait and see.

"I like the way he pulled away at the end." (MG & EM)