GRINKOV TOO STRONG IN PIERSE

Long-time favourite Grinkov delighted his supporters when running out an impressive winner of the #100,000 Pierse Handicap Hurdle at a sunny Leopardstown, reports Gareth O`Brien.

The 11/2 shot, due to race off a 9 lb higher mark in future handicaps, travelled strongly in behind front-running stable-companion Lawz before being sent clear in the straight by Charlie Swan. At the line, the partnership had three lengths to spare over Ricardo and Rooster Booster.

Pat Hughes, saddling his second successive winner of the race following Mantles Prince's triumph in last year's Ladbroke-sponsored renewal, may now send the six year-old for the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury, for which he picks up a mandatory 4 lb penalty.

'He's only ever been out of the money once over hurdles, at Down Royal in November, and our horses were a bit low then. He's still a novice, so we'll consider the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham as well.'

Top-weight Micko's Dream put up a terrific performance to capture the valuable Pierse Leopardstown Chase for lucky owners, the Sport Racing Club.

Under what trainer Willie Mullins described as an ?exceptional' ride from Ruby Walsh, the nine year-old led approaching the final fence and kept on gamely to deny the staying-on Shannon Gale.

'We decided to change tactics today,' said Mullins. 'He had been running too freely in his races so we thought we'd drop him in behind, and Ruby has done brilliantly to get him settled and keep enough in reserve for the finish.'

The defection of Over The Furze left Ross Moff with an apparently straightforward task in the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group Novice Chase, and the 2/7 favourite made no mistake, scoring with any amount in hand.

Held up in rear by Conor O'Dwyer, the high-class hurdler jumped notably well apart from a slight nod two out to earn a quote of 16/1 from Cashmans for the Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham. Connections were quick to stress however that that race is just one of a number of options for their charge at the Festival.

Bust Out got favourite backers off to the perfect start when comfortably landing the opening Killiney Hurdle. Barry Geraghty's mount headed the pace-setting Alpha Blues, a first runner in almost two months from Jim Dreaper's yard, at the turn-in and was ridden out to hold that rival by four lengths.

'I expect we'll take him to Cheltenham after that,' said trainer Jessica Harrington, 'the owners are certainly keen to go ! Ideally he would prefer better ground.'

25/1 shot Mr Sneaky Boo scuppered the hopes of many a jackpot investor with an easy victory in the S.M. Morris Handicap Hurdle. Bobby McNally dashed his mount to the front after two out, and from that point the result was never in doubt.

Indeed, there ultimately proved to be just one winning ticket on Wicked Crack, who reversed Christmas form with Calladine in no uncertain terms in the Ladbroke Casinos Handicap Hurdle Qualifier. The teak-tough mare's six-length triumph resulted in a whopping dividend of #34,057.

Some very well-thought-of newcomers lined up for the concluding Taney Flat Race, but in the race itself there was no contest as Beechcourt (9/4-11/4-5/2) routed his rivals under Gary Walshe. Sweeping past favourite Any News on straightening up for home, the Son Pardo gelding stretched well clear before being eased down for a hugely impressive twelve-length winning margin.

'He'll probably have just a couple more runs this season, the next of which is likely to be the Cheltenham bumper (for which he has rocketed to favouritism with Paddy Power and Cashmans),' said a delighted Michael O'Brien. The handler also revealed that there is a strong possibility of his charge competing in different colours next time.