Hamford Stud M´dn H´dle of €9,500.00 4-y-o 2m.

1st - €6,564.50, 2nd - €1,615.00, 3rd - €760.00, 4th - €475.00 16 Ran

Some shrewd punters got their St Patricks Day off to a good start when King Of Prussia justified some support (20/1-12/1) before going off a 14/1 shot in the opening maiden hurdle. Francis Crowley's charge was brought down last time out at Leopardstown in a maiden hurdle which was eventually won by Fred Winter sixth, Siege Of Ennis but on that occasion he was a 33/1 chance and at that stage never looked like getting involved.

Today the son of Sinndar, was always prominent and tracked long time leader Pillar Of Hercules until the second last when Doyle sent his mount to the front and went on to hold off Strolling Home by two and a half lengths.

The result saw a vast improvement of placing for the four-year-old but it was a severe drop in class and the winner can be expected to mix it over both codes during the summer.

Second placed Strolling Home was another to have been fairly prominent throughout proceedings and finished on well. He was a bit big at a couple of his hurdles which may have cost him ground without ever costing him the race.

He too is one who could be set to mix it over the coming months but there is a similar sort of race in him on this showing.

Favourite Sebadee was head of the market following his decent runs behind Western Point (2nd at Gowran) and C'est Ca (4th Gowran) but a mistake at the third last all put paid to his chances and he flew home at the death but nine-and-a-half lengths adrift of the winner.

The fact that those aforementioned runs both came on soft ground and today's going was described as yielding ? good in places, may suggest he wants more of a cut in it to be at his very best.

Pillar Of Hercules was having just his second start since joining from England and after his attempt to make all he may just need a bit further before he gets off the mark. Fistoulig who unseated David Casey at the first had been backed from 10/1 into 7/1.