Princeton takes the feature for Harty & Madden

The feature race of the day, the Grade C Guinness Handicap Hurdle over two miles, went to the Eddie Harty trained Princeton Plains under a well timed run by Niall Madden.

Having won the valuable Grade B Ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle at Killarney in May, the son of Tagula then disappointed at Sligo in a novice hurdle finishing third to Sulwaan.

He then bounced back to form on the Tuesday of the Galway Festival again in novice company before running a cracker just two days later in the Galway Hurdle finishing over eights lengths fifth to Moon Dice.

Just like Darasal Wane earlier today, the winner was waited with towards the rear. He then closed into fifth from before the straight. He travelled well up alongside Delphi Mountain (6/1) on the run to the last and battled on gamely to fend off that fellow by half a length at the line.

The 9/2 favourite The Bull Hayes stayed on to take third two and half lengths back for Jessica Harrington and Barry Geraghty.

The winner opened on course at 5/1 but drifted and touched 7/1 at a stage but was returned at 13/2.

Winning trainer Eddie Harty said afterwards: "That was nice. He is a nice horse and he ran a great race in the Galway Hurdle to finish fifth. We said we would give him a break after that and come here and thankfully it worked out.

"It was a true run race and all the main contenders were there at the last and thankfully he came out on top.

"Niall (Madden) did a super job. I told him to wait with him and that's exactly what he did.

"It's nice to have a winner for JP, he has been very good to me through the years and it's good to repay him.

"We have nothing specific in mind for him now, he will probably run again in a month or so. The ground was a concern today, as it is sticky but he didn't seem to mind it."

Donal Murphy