Ange Balafre takes nicely to hurdling

Noel Meade and Barry Geraghty teamed up well with 15/8 favourite Ange Balafre in the two mile maiden hurdle in Wexford.

The four-year-old gelding had won his bumper last-time out in Roscommon at the fourth time of asking and readily followed up on his hurdling debut.

Geraghty manoeuvred his mount into second place upon jumping the third last. Turning for home the pair were going much the better than leader Horendus Hulabaloo and Andrew Lynch, however, Long House Saint and Paul Townend loomed large on the outside coming to the last.

A good jump at that obstacle saw Geraghty drive his charge home by a length and a quarter. A mistake at the last meant Long House Saint could make no further headway in second at 14/1. Horendous Hulabaloo was a length and three parts down in third at 11/4.

Barry Geraghty said: "He jumped nicely for his first time over hurdles. Noel had him well schooled as usual. He did as much as he had to do and he is nice lad for the future."

Conor Brassil was given a one day suspension by the stewards for weighing in 1.8lbs overweight after riding Lipinski to finish fifth.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy