The Wallpark too strong for his couple of rivals

The Deacy Gilligan Hurdle in Galway lost some of its lustre when Fakir D'oudairies and French Dynamite were ruled out reducing the field to three runners, and it was The Wallpark who brought up his hat-trick.

The 5/6 favourite tussled with Kings Hill throughout the race with Lord Erskine adrift in third.

Jack Kennedy got busy on The Wallpark two out and bustled his mount on terms with Kings Hill in jumping that flight.

They soon led and had the race in the bag once the last was negotiated. The 'jolly' kept on to win by four lengths from the 9/4 runner-up.

The Wallpark took the honours over flights at Kilbeggan in July and followed up in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival.

Gordon Elliott said: "He has his own way of doing it, but has an engine and is a grand honest horse. Jack said if they had gone faster it would have suited better, as he didn't like being in front.

"He definitely wants three miles and we'll go to Cheltenham for a Pertemps Qualifier in October now.

"He's a good horse and will go chasing next year."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes