Favourite sees off the gambles

Captain Cole (8s into 4s) and Hassanali (25s in the morning into 14/1) were the money horses for the T.P. Walsh Memorial Handicap but they couldn't peg back the favourite, The Pier as they finished first second and third in what would have been a bad result for bookmakers.

Billy Lee kicked on aboard the victorious chestnut turning in and try as his rivals might they couldn't reach Joe Murphy's charge, going down by half a length and the same.

Murphy said: "I see him as a three-year-old hurdler and he has schooled very well but I didn't want to give him a hard race against the likes of Mosstown on Monday. He is improving all the time and will be better with age. He will go on soft but is better on better ground."