Livelovelaugh appreciated a drop in class to regain the winning thread in the Cashel Rated Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

The Beneficial gelding represented the powerful connections of Rich Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, and ultimately came home clear in this 2m4f event.

The seven-year-old was a maiden hurdle winner at Ballinrobe last May but soundly beaten twice in Graded company this season. He was getting on top when left clear after Carrig Cathal stumbled two out and unseated Jack Kennedy.

Livelovelaugh galloped on strongly for Walsh to score by 20 lengths, with Aussie Reigns completing a 1-2 for the Mullins yard.

There was a further gap of 11 lengths back to Conrad Hastings who cut out a lot of the running, in third place.

Paddy Power cut the winner into 16/1 (from 25/1) for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and to 25/1(from 40’s) for the Neptune, but connections are planning a return to Thurles later this month.

Mullins said, "He was lucky to win by as far as he did but he jumps well and stays galloping.

"He'll come back here for the Michael Purcell Memorial (on February 23)."

(TW & AM)