Honourable performance from Emperor Honourable Emperor overcame adversity to take the opener at Kilbeggan this evening, the Easyfix Rubber Products Maiden Hurdle. The Noel Meade trained four-year-old gelding was 5/1 this morning with Paddy Power but opened on track at just 11/4 before going off at 5/2. In what was an incident packed race he was settled in seventh before taking closer order from the fourth last flight. He was badly hampered at the second last, where All Fired Up fell and brought down Goal, but he quickly recovered and came with his challenge on the inside. He was then squeezed for room approaching the last, where Magical Moon fell, but he jumped that hurdle well and went on from there to record an easy four length success, from the Eddie O’Connell ridden, Ken Condon trained Castletimon in second at 20/1. Great Jones was sent off the 15/8 favourite under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins but he could only manage a disappointing third, a length and three parts back. Winning rider Davy Condon, who recorded a fantastic four-timer at Down Royal on Friday, said afterwards: "I had to go up the inside. Had I gone around them I wouldn’t have won. "He had a bit of a look at the wing (of the last). I think if I had got a clear run he would have won on the bridle." Andrew Leigh, rider of All Fired Up, has been taken to Tullamore General Hospital with abdominal injuries. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
