Grange back in the number one

Eddie Harty and J P McManus are a potent combination and Grange made up for a short-head defeat over the course and distance eleven days back by comfortably landing the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Novice Handicap Hurdle under 'Slippers' Madden.

The successful five-year-old son of Vinnie Roe led entering the straight and the well-backed second favourite Hop In wasn't going to get to him from before the last, four and three parts of a length separating them at the line.

Harty said: "That makes up for the last day though God knows what the handicapper will do with him now.

"He's a smashing little horse although he's always been a little bit immature.

"He caught me a little bit by surprise at Tipperary and with a bit of luck he could have had three ones in front of his name now." (AM & EM)