18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon

Review fairyhouse 2nd Apr

Sun 2nd Apr 2017, 18:20

The three Grade Two races at Fairyhouse all went to Willie Mullins, starting with Ballycasey (15-8) who made all in the in the Normans Grove Chase.

The 15-8 chance was sent straight to the front by Ruby Walsh and put in a lovely round of jumping at the head of affairs.

6-5 favourite Ball D'Arc laid down a challenge after the last, but the winner had enough in hand to hold his younger rival by half a length.

Mullins launched a four-pronged assault on the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle and Ruby Walsh chose the right one as he triumphed on Bleu Berry

His stablemate Montalbano blazed a trail under Danny Mullins but was challenged by Outspoken and the winner approaching the last and the trio jumped it in a line together.

The 2-1 favourite put in a better leap and stayed on strongly to record a two-and-a-quarter-length verdict over Outspoken.< Invitation Only proved disappointing as his stablemate Al Boum Photo took the Easter Festival April 16th-18th Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The well-fancied Mullins inmate looked like justifying 11-10 favouritism when travelling smoothly into contention but he weakened very quickly after the second-last and it was the yard's second string that picked up the pieces.

The 10-1 chance stayed on well to take it up from Stand Up And Fight at the final hurdle and pulled four length clear of that rival under Paul Townend.

Barry Geraghty scored on his first day back from injury when partnering Close Shave (9-2) to victory in the Great Value Online Novice Handicap Hurdle, beating fellow JP McManus-owned runner Travertine by three-quarters of a length.

That completed a double for trainer Jessica Harrington, who had earlier sent out Woodland Opera (4-5fav) to win the Hire2k Beginners Chase by seven lengths from O Ceallaigh < From Eden was a gutsy winner of the opening Johnny McCarthy Memorial Maiden Hurdle as the 9-2 chance denied the sustained challenge of Look Closer by a head, while Aa Bee See (14-1) was a five-and-a-half-length winner from Glasson Lad in the concludin