Swords H´dle of €12,000.00 5-y-o plus 2m. 2f.

1st - €8,292.00, 2nd - €2,040.00, 3rd - €960.00, 4th - €600.00 16 Ran

Ballyagran, reverting back to hurdles for the first time in nearly two years, ultimately recorded a convincing victory over Clear Riposte after the pair pulled clear in the straight. He took it up just before the second last and some fine jumping helped settle the issue.

A welcome boost for the Noel Meade yard with the Punchestown Festival only around the corner, the winner will head there now for a 2m4f handicap chase. He was runner-up to Sir Frederick in the Galway Plate last year, and the Ballybrit highlight is again firmly on the agenda for this good ground performer.

The well-supported Clear Riposte (7/2-11/4) always appeared to be fighting a losing battle in the straight but kept on well, while Paramount stayed on best of the remainder with his usual tail-swishing antics in evidence.

Commonchero lost any chance of minor honours when blundering two out, while Medicinal and the lightly-raced SPRING THE CUE both briefly looked threats approaching three out before their challenges petered out quite tamely.

Vic Venturi was another to pose no threat inside the final half mile and will prove difficult to place off his current rating. Dahra One raced keenly in front until a mistake at the fourth brought him back to the field, and he weakened quickly before four out.

Non-runner, Cailin Alainn (stone bruise)