Lyreen takes Thurles feature

Lyreen Legend runner-up to both Monksland and Boston Bob on his previous two starts in Graded company, paid a handsome compliment to those Cheltenham contenders when taking the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

The five-year-old’s jumping was far from fluent early on but he warmed to his task and found plenty under pressure in the straight for Bryan Cooper.

The 3/1 chance led before the last as the front-running Caolaneoin faded, and stretched out nicely on the run-in to beat evens favourite Folsom Blue by three and a quarter lengths. Bridgets Pet (16/1) kept on to finish just a neck back in third, while the Willie Mullins-trained pair Hats And Heels and Toostrong both disappointed.

Winning trainer Dessie Hughes said, “We need another like him! He met the first two hurdles all wrong and he jumped a bit up in the air for the rest of them. The track probably wouldn’t suit him.

He’s not entered in Cheltenham as he’s only five, and will probably go to both Fairyhouse and Punchestown for two and a half mile novices.”