Palace Merano showed deep reserves of stamina to catch and short-head Phoenix Run in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.

The latter took over two out and looked sure to score when going on under Davy Russell. However Ruby Walsh conjured a flying late run out of Palace Merano to get up near the line.

Walsh and winning trainer Willie Mullins were gaining compensation for the minimum margin defeat of Tawaagg in the first.

Mullins said of Palace Merano (6s in the morning into 4s): "This horse had been crying out for a trip. He is all stamina and he'll be going over three miles before long. He could even go over fences by the end of the season and he is a half-brother to that good horse of Paul Nicholls' Napolitain." (EM)