Saldier and Ruby Walsh come to grief as Espoir D'Allen and Mark Walsh race on for the win© Photo Healy Racing
There was a double for J P McManus and Mark Walsh in race three at Naas when Espoir D’Allen came out on top in the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle.
For the second race in succession after Footpad thirty five minutes earlier, a Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh runner departed the scene at the closing jump.
Footpad looked held, but in the case of the Closutton runner this time — Saldier — it was a case of on terms with every chance when falling.
From there the Gavin Cromwell-trained Espoir D’Allen went on to beat Mr Adjudicator by eleven lengths.
The earlier McManus/Walsh winner was the Jospeh O'Brien-trained Rhinestone in race one.
“You would love to do it on merit and I don’t know if he’d have won. It was all up in the air," said Cromwell.
“He was fit and well but I really didn’t know coming here was he good enough. I’m delighted with that.
“He’s in the Hatton’s Grace and stays well so I wouldn’t rule it out.
“He hasn’t been seen since February, and it was a case of getting this out of the way and seeing where we were. It’s a fair yard stick in fairness.”
Champion Hurdle - Espoir D'allen 40/1 Paddy Power, 50/1 Betfair
(AM & EM)
