Tony Martin© Photo Healy Racing
< Blair Perrone showed his appreciation for a marked drop in class with a ridiculously easy victory in the Henry Shefflin & Aidan O'Brien Rated Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park.
A big disappointment when tried in high-class company on his last two starts, the Tony Martin-trained six-year-old found plenty of support as the 6-4 favourite and was given a quiet ride by Ruby Walsh, who dropped him in at the rear of the seven-runner field.
He was travelling easily on the home turn and soon arrived on the heels of the leaders, though Walsh remained virtually motionless as he took charge going to the final flight and eased away to score by four and a half lengths.
Davy Russell confirmed he had lost the ride on former Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere earlier in the day and things got markedly worse when he suffered suspected arm and leg breaks in the Brian Cody & www.aclsurgery.ie Mares Beginners Chase.
He took a fall three out on the front-running Feenakilmeedy and with Shuilamach departing at the same fence, the Pat Ryan-trained Ivy Glen (12-1) was left in front and took advantage to score by six and a half lengths under Brian O'Connell.
Michael Hourigan's 2-1 chance Undressed travelled into contention going well in the Cillian Buckley & Kilkenny City And County Vintners Maiden Hurdle and Mark Enright waited until nearing the final flight to assert before scoring by a length and three-quarters.
Noel Meade's bumper winner Bonny Kate appeared to hold all the aces in the Paul Murphy & Euromedic Maiden Hurdle and the 2-5 favourite won as she liked, making all under Paul Carberry and coasting in by two lengths without breaking sweat.
David Mullins was in no hurry to hit the front on Mine Now in the Richie Hogan & Ashgrove Stables Handicap Hurdle and waited until after the last to take charge on Peter Fahey's 5-1 joint-favourite, who forged a length and a quarter clear.
John Carr's Fergiethelegend (20-1) kept going from the front to see off all-comers in the TJ Reid & First Auto Finance Handicap Chase, staying on well under
