It was a case of David beating Goliath in division one of the Horse & Jockey Maiden Hurdle when local trainer Michael Croke saddled his first winner for six years with Saville Row. Goliath was in the shape of heavily backed favourite Boulevard, sporting the colours of Eddie Jordan's wife Marie. Jordan arrived by helicopter at the Co Tipperary venue to see the grey son of Sadler's Wells, who could find no extra in the straight as Saville Row made all under Pat Verling.
'My last winner on the track was also here when Lady Bar won a handicap chase in February '94,' said a delighted Croke, and added: 'I have been waiting on good ground for Saville Row.'
The Jordan's were also out of luck with Somemanforoneman, who made a number of jumping errors when finishing sixth behind Le Grande King in the EBF Beginners Chase.
Kieran Kelly substituted for Garrett Cotter - shaken after an earlier fall - on Leos Holiday, who landed the Littleton Handicap Hurdle (Division 2). The Jimmy Mangan-trained mare led at the last to beat Shrug by two lengths, and the Cork handler said afterwards: 'She is a half-sister to Greenflag Princess, and should make a nice chaser.'
The Adrian Maguire-ridden Bachelors Bar, second reserve in division one of the handicap hurdle, headed Cryptic Pattern in the closing stages to score by half a length. The 7/2 favourite Gillys Hope, soundly beaten in sixth, was found to be coughing post-race.
