O'Callaghan drives Hi Ski home

Hi Ski made the best way home to land the first split of the 80-102 handicap hurdle in Tipperary.

Shane O'Callaghan asked his mount to inject pace into the contest after the penultimate flight and the leader soon had the field off the bridle.

A lovely nimble jump at the last really helped her cause, particularly as the closest pursuer, Away To Milan blundered there.

Hi Ski (17/2) was soon away and gone on the run-in, but Sovereign Duke (40/1) rattled home from fourth at the last to close to within half a length of the winner at the line. Littel Flour gave best in third at 20/1 as Away To Milan's costly late mistake saw him drop out of the first three.

“She was a little unlucky a couple of times as she was second in Limerick and may have won there a couple of runs back when she unseated at the second last. She had snippets of form and entitled to win something, but when it was going to happen I didn’t know," said Ross O'Sullivan.

“Unfortunately, the owners are not here as they had to go to a funeral and they bred her as well. They have all the family, so it is an important win.

“She enjoyed it in front and jumped great. She didn’t get hassled for the lead and was in a comfortable position.

“She will tip away for the summer and might jump a fence some time.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee