Alisier too hot for maiden rivals The confidence behind hotpot Alisier D'irlande proved well founded as he made all for a facile success in the Devil's Bit Maiden Hurdle at Thurles. The French-bred was making his first starting since switching to Henry de Bromhead and was sent of the 2/7 favourite (from 8/11 this morning) for the two-mile contest. Andrew Lynch bounced out in front on Roger Brookhouse's charge and he established a healthy lead going out on the final circuit. He was untidy at the first up the back but soon recovered his composure and there were no scares afterwards as he sauntered to a 21-length success. Our Dougal won the battle for second from Getting Late, who made mistakes at the last two flights. The winner had been bought by his owner for £300,000 after winning a point-to-point for Willie Codd last year. He had shown some promise when third on his English debut, at Ascot in November, before being well-beaten in a Grade 2 event at Warwick in January. The winning trainer wasn't present and Lynch said afterwards:- "The track was probably a bit sharp for him and he was a bit fresh and keen. He's a good horse though who'll go on any ground." (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
