Bullet shoots down Joan

Sugar Bullet proved another one for Dessie Hughes at Kilbeggan as odds-on shot Layla Joan was well-held in the mares beginners chase.

Layla Joan, who was a leading fancy before unseating in the Grade 1 mares hurdles at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, looked a class act on her chase debut and was sent off 8/13 favourite.

She came off the bridle before the third last, however, and could only plug on to finish third.

Sugar Bullet was driven to claim front-runner Waltz Legend on the long run to the last and kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters victory over that rival.

The 4/1 winner had plenty of experience over fences, making her ninth start tonight.

“Perseverance paid off,” said Hughes. “I thought she'd like the better ground and she jumped superbly on it. She might be able to win a handicap.”

The winner is owned by the Just Friends Syndicate who hail from Galway.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)