Fiveforthree lands Ballymore in Irish clean sweep

Fiveforthree showed real determination to land the Ballymore Properties Novices´ Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

Sent off at 7-1, the grey challenged at the last and kept finding for pressure to see off the Mouse Morris-trained Venalmar close home.

Four Irish horses went to the last in with a shout, with Trafford Lad keeping on to claim third spot and Forpadydeplasterer finishing fourth.

Venalmar travelled strongly throughout and took over as the principals moved down the hill for the final time.

But Fiveforthree, who had been settled towards the rear by Walsh, was soon on the scene and kicked into top gear as the final flight approached.

The pair landed just about together and although the runner-up took a definite, if slight, advantage, the eventual winner kept fighting and eventually won the day by a neck.

Trafford Lad stayed on but finished four lengths behind the second, while Forpadydeplasterer was a length behind him.

Walsh said of the winner: "He was just a bit novicey, he missed the second-last but he battled all the way to the line.

"It was in his pedigree that he would stay. He´s a half-brother to Celestial Gold and he did stay.

"He stuck his head out and we got there," he added.

There was a sting in the tail for Walsh, who picked up a five-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency and in the wrong place.

Mullins added: "I thought when he won at Fairyhouse we would go for the Supreme, but I looked at his pedigree and discovered there was plenty of stamina in it.

"Combined with the fact that Ruby was available, it tempted me to switch to the Ballymore.

"All being well, he will run at Punchestown and will go novice chasing next season."

Morris was full of praise for Venalmar, and said: "He?s as good as I´ve brought over here.

"He is 17 hands and he´s crying out to jump a fence and will be a hell of a horse next year.

"We´ll see what happens but we may take him to Punchestown at the end of the season."

That is also the likely destination for Trafford Lad, whose trainer Dusty Sheehy said: "He probably found them going a bit slowly but he´s run his heart out and I think that was a very good race.

"We´ll go to Punchestown and it´ll be chasing next season."