Evermore gives weight and a beating to rivals

The 9/2 joint favourite Finest Evermore put up a notable weight-carrying performance to land the Failte Hotel, Bar, Restaurant Handicap Hurdle, completing a double for Willie Mullins after Uncle Phil in the first.

The daughter of Yeats, a three-time winner in 2020 and fourth in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown over Christmas, made a bad mistake and was pulled up on her first run of the year at Galway.

Never far off the pace, the top weight led three out and first saw off the challenge of stablemate Berkshire Royal before just clinging by a nose as Alvaro in receipt of 26lb, flew home on the run-in.

Winning rider Danny Mullins said: "It was a good performance. But for the mistake at Galway, I thought she would have been competitive and backed up that today.

"She isn't the biggest filly but is well able to carry weight and shows the heart she has.

"She is a good stayer but doesn't lack speed either and coming back in trip wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. She'll have options and could go to the bigger festivals and be competitive."

Quotes from Tom Weekes