Largy Hill takes Grade 3 step up in class in his stride Largy Hill's proven ability over three miles stood him in good stead for a step up in class in the Grade 3 BoyleSports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles. Paul Townend sent him about his business on the run to the penultimate flight of this extended 2m4f race worth €30,000. The leader really cranked up the pressure on his rivals between the final two flights but odds-on favourite Staffordshire Knot attempted to close, however, he stuttered into the last in a race in which he put in some novicey jumps. At this stage, Largy Hill (10/3) had flown on the run-in and he kept up the gallop to win a shade comfortably by four lengths from Staffordshire Knot (8/11f). Largy Hill was last seen winning a staying maiden hurdle at Cork in January while Staffordshire Knot realised €510,000 at the recent Caldwell Construction dispersal sale at Tattersalls Ireland. Willie Mullins said: "Largy Hill did everything right and that was a good effort. You could see his jumping was that of an ex-point-to-pointer, compared to Stoke The Fire (stablemate, finished third) who was novicey and What Path (fourth) jumped a bit left. "I was very happy with Stoke The Fire and that will bring him on hugely.  "The winner is a big chasing type and it is nice to win a prize like this. I doubt he'll go to Cheltenham and will wait until Fairyhouse instead." Paddy Power made Largy Hill 12/1 from 16/1 for the Albert Bartlett (non runner money back). Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
