Empire ready to do even more

Odds-on backers of Lucky Bridle in the first at Punchestown, the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Maiden Hurdle, would have had their concerns from an early stage but that shouldn't detract from a nice display by the well-bred Empire Of Dirt

Ruby Walsh 's mount Lucky Bridle was too free and indeed he was all but taken out of the contest when leader Buachaill Tapa tried to run out and unseated Andrew Lynch at the first.

Empire Of Dirt soon took up the baton and a great leap at the last saw the long-absent and expensive six-year-old beat off Cebuano by two and a quarter lengths.

Lucky Bridle was beaten when making a mistake at the last and he dropped thirteen lengths off them in third.

Winning trainer Colm Murphy said of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned, Davy Russell-ridden victor: "He wears ear-plugs as he can be a bit hard on himself and all he can do is improve from that. He was plenty green in front and he'll learn a lot.

"He'll go for a winners somewhere now.

"His pedigree suggests he wants three miles. He's a big horse and the bit of time off crowned him – he had a bit of a leg.

"I'd imagine he'll stay over hurdles this year."

In the same ownership, Murphy had the following update on Quito De La Roque: "He'll probably run in Down Royal on Saturday if it rains, though if it doesn't he probably won't." (AM & EM)