The Cork Handicap Hurdle was a lively betting heat which principally concerned favourite Akinspirit but that one and the rest were firmly put in their places by the not ignored in the market either, Bachelor Affair under Tommy Treacy.

Winner of the long-standing Jack Duggan Hurdle at Gowran in June, the free-going Bachelor Affair has been a fantastic servant to Gerard Mullins and his neighbours in Kilkenny, the Greenes. In this two miler the nine-year-old never saw another rival from the front and he kept up the gallop up the straight to beat the staying-on but never getting there Akinspirit and Green To Gold

Mullins said of the Bachir gelding, gaining his fifth win for connections here, all achieved under Tommy Treacy: "The ground is the key to him as he doesn't act on soft ground.

"We hope to go to Tramore now for another handicap hurdle (won a beginners chase at the Festival there in 2010).

"All the praise should go to Mary's (Greene) son Martin as he looks after him and does everything with him. He's a dream horse who cost very little and he is paying his way."