Pearl back to her best

She was the only mare in the sixteen runner field but Assigh Pearl was more than up to the task in the Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse. She was beaten when well-fancied at Down Royal on her last start but she put that behind her to battle off all challengers in this two miler under Paul Carberry.

Carberry reported that she didn't handle the soft ground at Down Royal but the daughter of Lord Of Appeal had no such problems here and she beat Fosters Cross by two lengths.

Winning trainer Noel Meade said: "She got a bit lost on the ground the last day and that's why she raced on the outer here. Paul said the ground was fresher out there and that she jumped brilliant.

"She never really runs a bad race except for the last day. She could go for the MCR Hurdle now. She has black-type already but the owners would be keen to get more of it."