Liclash a facile winner under Shortall for Ryan

The Stephen Ryan trained Liclash ran out a facile of the Signsplus Handicap Hurdle.

A surprise 16/1 winner over the course in July of last year, the son of Diamond Green disappointed on his sole start since at Fairyhouse in November.

Sent off an easy to back 11/1 chance today he raced prominently in the early stages before improving to dispute the lead with a circuit to race.

He went a few lengths clear on the approach to two out and he soon put the contest to bed, going on to score by an eased down nine lengths under Shane Shortall.

Top-weight Tristram Shandy (14/1) kept on to take second under Mark Bolger for Eric McNamara, while All The Chimneys (14/1) was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Eamonn Corbett for Willie Austin. Coole Craft for Jonathan and Mikey Fogarty, was sent off the 11/4 favourite and he finished a disappointing sixth after making a mistake four out.

Stephen Ryan said afterwards: "I was a bit worried about the ground - he won on goodish ground but today's ground is more extreme.

"He'll go for something similar next and I'll keep him to hurdling for another run or two. He's a fine animal and I'm looking forward to fences with him as he's a super leaper.

"He is owned by William Fitzgerald, from Limerick who owns a skip-hire business."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes