Three Stripe Life opens his account over flights

Cheltenham Champion Bumper fourth Three Stripe Life got off the mark over hurdles in Fairyhouse with the minimum of fuss.

He was always to the fore in this two miler and tanked along under Davy Russell approaching two out.

He jumped that nicely and readily put daylight between himself and the field before the final flight.

Despite making a mistake there, the 2/13 favourite cruised in by six lengths from Hans Gruber (18/1). Smoke And Mirrors was another three and a quarter lengths back in third at 33/1.

Three Stripe Life's price contracted when his main market rival Largy Debut was ruled out with a stone bruise.

“It's job done and he couldn't do any more than what he did,” said Gordon Elliott.

“Davy said he wasn't doing a whole lot in front, he had jumped the last he would probably have sprinted up the straight but he missed it.

“Davy said that ground is as quick as he'd want it so a bit of easier ground will suit him. You'd imagine the Royal Bond is where he'll be going.

“He was fourth at Cheltenham and ran well so he's a nice horse.

“He'll learn plenty there, he ran off the bend and everything, he was green.”

Paddy Power cut Three Stripe Life from 33/1 to 25/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson