Lad wins race number 10 at Punchestown

Luska Lad was odds-on for the Grade 3 Ryan's Cleaning Events Specialists Hurdle at Punchestown and he got the job done with the minimum of fuss.

In the hands of Andrew McNamara, the chestnut was allowed to stride on from before the second last and he drew clear in the straight to very easily beat Der Spieler by two and a half lengths.

Well-backed second market choice, Baron De'l was in trouble from a long way out under Ruby Walsh and ended up beating just the rank outsider, Winner Takes Itall home.

John 'Shark' Hanlon, the winning trainer, said: "That was great - a good performance from him. He (Andrew) said he handles that ground but that he'd be better on softer. He was entitled to win like that on the ratings.

"He'll go to the North (Down Royal for a Grade 2) now in three weeks time and to Fairyhouse (the Hatton's Grace) after that. The ground out there today was beautiful and fair dues to all involved.

"We had him schooled over fences and I was afraid he'd jump too big but he didn't. Andrew gave him a very good ride."

The son of Flemensfirth has been a fantastic servant to the Athlone-based Magestic Syndicate as he was winning his tenth race here.