www.tote.ie H´dle of €20,000.00 4-y-o plus 2m.

1st - €13,020.00, 2nd - €4,000.00, 3rd - €2,000.00, 4th - €800.00 9 Ran

SPLURGE has been busy and progressive this term and after a rare dip in fortunes last time, he regained the winning thread in style here. Leading from the fifth, his hurdling was a joy to behold out in front and he had much too much for his opponents up the straight, crossing the line five and a half lengths to the good.

James Nash, representing John Coleman, the successful trainer, said, ?he is finished for the year I?d imagine, he has enough done ? after Fairyhouse the last time I was going to give him a break. Ruby says he?ll make a smashing chaser and we?ll have to see what we do with him next season.?

In contrast to Splurge, who was nicely backed, VICTRAM was easy in the market. He was in trouble from before the straight but stuck on well without ever posing the slightest threat, to take second place from the last hurdle. On ratings he should have been winning here but like Splurge he has been in action plenty lately and in fairness the first was hard to live with on this performance.

WALY?S OWN (8/1 in the morning into 5/1) achieved about as much as one could expect back in third whilst similar remarks could be applied to GOOD THYNE JACK (returning from an eighteen month break over a trip too short) and MARHABA MILLION (who also didn?t go unbacked).