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Right Result For Walsh Fans

With testing ground and a bomb scare, day one of the Tralee Festival got off to a lively start and it was Forthright who claimed the feature Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

All six runners were in close contention with five furlongs to go but as they just strode inside the final half-mile, Forthright, nudged along by Ruby Walsh, moved up into third.

Cloone Rocket, the 3-1 favourite, began to lose contention and dropped back through the field as at the last Forthright and Bonne Noel's had little to separate them.

But Walsh's mount jumped more smoothly and landed with the momentum to propel him into a lead which he held easily all the way to the line, holding Bonne Noel's by a length and a quarter.

Winning trainer Mark Loughnane said of the 100-30 chance: 'He only just does enough in front, but he is a very good horse and wants better ground really.

'We went to Galway with him, but this race was the plan all along so he'll have a break now.'

(C) PA Sport

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